Biography
Founded by cellist Yo-Yo Ma in 2000, the Grammy Award-winning Silkroad Ensemble has been at the core of Silkroad’s work to advance global understanding, deepen learning, and promote cross-cultural collaboration. These artists represent dozens of nationalities and artistic traditions, from Spain and Japan to Syria and the United States, and draw on a rich tapestry of traditions from around the world to create a new musical language that weaves together the foreign and the familiar. The Ensemble, led by Artistic Director Rhiannon Giddens, appears in many configurations and settings, from intimate groups of two and three in museum galleries to rousing complements of eighteen in concert halls, public squares, and amphitheaters.
The Silkroad Ensemble performs throughout the world and has recorded eight albums. Sing Me Home, which won the 2016 Grammy for Best World Music Album was developed and recorded alongside the documentary feature The Music of Strangers, from Oscar-winning director Morgan Neville.
Members:
Kinan Azmeh, Clarinet
Jeffrey Beecher, Bass
Mike Block, Cello
Shawn Conley, Bass
Nicholas Cords, Viola
Aaron Copp, Lighting Design
Layale Chaker, Violin
Sandeep Das, Tabla
Hadi Eldebek, Oud
Jody Elff, Sound Design
Nora Fischer, Vocals
Haruka Fujii, Percussion
Maeve Gilchrist, Celtic Harp
Osvaldo Golijov, Composition
Mario Gotoh, Violin & Viola
Joseph Gramley, Percussion
Colin Jacobsen, Violin
Eric Jacobsen, Cello
Kayhan Kalhor, Kamancheh
Ashley Martin, Stage Management
Danny Mekonnen, Saxophone
Jessie Montgomery, Violin
Kevork Mourad, Visuals
Shaw Pong Liu, Violin & Erhu
Cristina Pato, Piano & Gaita
Edward Pérez, Bass
Karen Ouzounian, Cello
Shane Shanahan, Percussion
Mark Suter, Percussion
Mazz Swift, Violin
Kojiro Umezaki, Shakuhachi
Kaoru Watanabe, Shinobue & Taiko
Michi Wiancko, Violin
Preeti Vasudevan, Dance
Wu Man, Pipa
Wu Tong, Sheng, Bawu, & Vocals
Reylon Yount, Yangqin