About
SoundCheckEarth will lead listeners into the natural world where the earth, humans and animals, are part of the soundscape inside the pristine beauty of Joshua Tree National Park. A site-specific immersive acoustic concert composed by Kennedy Verrett for 17 musicians, SoundCheckEarth will provide a strolling audience on the half mile walking path at Cap Rock with wondrous deep listening sensations. An unprecedented sonic event within the Park, coupled with the monumental beauty of the landscape–a bassoon player sheltered by a Joshua Tree, percussionists perched on boulders, strings, woodwinds and brass resonating with the rocks–SoundCheckEarth will create an unforgettable experience for those lucky enough to attend. A film by Eva Soltes will follow.
ABOUT THE COMPOSER:
Kennedy Verrett (he/him/they/them) is an innovative composer and music educator whose imaginative works capture beauty, rhythmic energy, and melodic interest. Inspired by composers who have preceded him including Lou Harrison, Julius Eastman, and Harry Partch, Kennedy has performed with many ensembles and as a conductor for orchestras, including the Monroe Symphony Orchestra and Fullerton Woodwind Quintet, with whom he also played bassoon and contrabassoon. Additionally, Kennedy performs on piano and an assortment of exotic instruments,including didjeridu and duduk and can be heard on various soundtrack recordings. Kennedy’s orchestrations and arrangements can be found in films such as Deliver Us From Evil (Screen Gems), The Monkey King, Priest (Screen Gems), and Drag Me to Hell (Universal). Kennedy is a 2020-2022 composing fellow at the Harrison House.
ABOUT THE PRODUCER/DIRECTOR:
Eva Soltes (she/her) is the Founder/Director of Harrison House Music, Arts & Ecology. A Performance & Media Arts Professional, Soltes has produced and/or directed nearly one thousand music, dance, theater and media works for national and international audiences. Soltes has also produced original work by gifted, often unknown, artists and documented historic figures who would otherwise have been under-recognized. She has worked closely with dozens of composers including Lou Harrison, Conlon Nancarrow, Terry Riley and John Cage. As a filmmaker her projects include: Producer/Director of LOU HARRISON: A World of Music a feature length documentary about the acclaimed American composer Lou Harrison (1917 –2003); American Producer of WEST COAST STORY: Frontiers of New Music a three-part BBC TV production featuring the history of California composers including John Adams, John Cage, Lou Harrison, Henry Cowell and Harry Partch; Tour Producer/Co-Producer of SAXOPHONE DIPLOMACY a broadcast work featuring The Rova Saxophone Quartet performing in the former Soviet Union during the Reagan era; Producer/Director/Editor of ON CONLON NANCARROW a multi-image short portraying ex-patriot composer Conlon Nancarrow (the first artist to receive a MacArthur award) which Soltes completed as an Artist-in-Residence at The Centre Pompidou.
CAST AND CREW
THE MUSICIANS
Composer – Kennedy Verrett
Violin – Pauline Lay
Violin – Jeremie Levi
Violin – Enosh Kofler
Viola – Heather Lockie
Cello – Karl McComas-Reichl
Cello – Emily Elkin
Contrabass – Janie Cowan
Flute – Christine Tavolacci
Bassoon – Archie Carey
Didgeridoo – Kennedy Verrett
Didgeridoo – David Yates
Trumpet – Andrew Spence
Trumpet – Bryce Schmidt
Trumpet – Aaron Smith
Percussion – Danny Frankel
Percussion – MB Gordy
Percussion – Kyle Hanson
CREW
A HARRISON HOUSE MUSIC, ARTS & ECOLOGY PRODUCTION
IN ASSOCIATION WITH JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK
Eva Soltes, Producer/Director
Marie Bobin, Line Producer
Caroline Partamian, Production Associate
Nickalus Heinze, Production Assistant
Darian Evans, Production Assistant
Devyn White, Publicist