MASON BATES, who appears as DJ MASONIC at Mezzanine, 111 Minna, Temple and many other clubs and lounges around San Francisco, is establishing himself as one of the most sought-after composers of his generation.
Recently named composer-in-residence with The California Symphony, he most recently performed live electronica on the stage of Carnegie Hall when the YouTube Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Michael Tilson Thomas, performed a sneak preview of "The B-Sides" (to be premiered by the San Francisco Symphony this May). He mounted the first installment of Mercury Soul with members of The Berlin Philharmonic in that city's famed club VolksbŸhne in 2005. Appearances next season include concerts with groups ranging from The Los Angeles Philharmonic to the Chicago Symphony.
David Arend
As a DJ, he is often joined by MarsBassMan (David Arend) on upright bass. Comfortable in playing with renown ensembles such as the San Francisco Symphony, or with figures as diverse as Ornette Coleman and Bobby McFerrin, Arend consistently demonstrates his musical versatility in venues up and down the West Coast.
ANNE PATTERSON works with groups ranging from The Philadelphia Orchestra to The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in creating a unique and beautiful visual element to complement their concerts. Using materials from aluminum to neon to wood, Patterson creates stunning, immersive installations that frame and inform the musical experience.
A set and costume designer based in New York, Patterson has worked at major theater companies around the country including Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, and Arena Stage and is also active as a painter. "My ever-changing installations will highlight the inherent theatricality in live music, whether classical or electronica," says Patterson, "and visually guide the audience's focus through an evening of varied music."
MAESTRO BENJAMIN SHWARTZ, as resident conductor of the San Francisco Symphony, leads the famed San Francisco Symphony Youth Symphony and works closely with Michael Tilson Thomas.
In demand around the world as a conductor of a wide range of repertoire, from classical to contemporary, he has conducted the New World Symphony and the Riva Festival Orchestra. In 2007, Maestro Shwartz was awarded the prestigious Presser Music Award and was a prizewinner in the Bamberg Symphony Gustav Mahler Conducting Competition.
In addition to his activities conducting standard orchestras, Maestro Shwartz is comfortable leading innovative ensembles that appear in alternative venues featuring non-classical artists. He conducted the West Coast premiere of Johnny GreenwoodÕs "Popcorn Superhet Receiver" with the Magik*Magik Orchestra to a sold-out crowd at Herbst Theater, and his performances with the Junkestra have been seen around the world.