Mari Yoshinaga and Garrett Arney are the artistic force behind “arx duo.” Their mission is to forge new connections and artistic pathways, or “arcs,” through percussion chamber music. Thriving on collaboration, Mari and Garrett view their work as an “arc” connecting audiences to new compositional voices and dynamic musicians of all kinds. They are dedicated to expanding percussion chamber music by commissioning new creative works, educating and inspiring young artists, and inviting audiences across the globe to engage with new and vibrant musical experiences.
Arx duo’s unique brand of energetic performances have reached audiences across America from east to west. They have been invited to be special ‘surprise’ guest performers as part of the Vancouver Recital Series in British Columbia, and completed a tour through the UK featuring “Harmonic Canon” composed for the group by 2018 British Composer of the Year, Dominic Murcott. Their premiere recording of the piece is available on nonclassical records.
Continuing their creative output through the COVID-19 pandemic, Mari and Garrett developed artful video performance projects to keep our communities connected by beautiful music in dark times. These performances included the premieres of “Evergreen” by Robert Honestein as part of the Sustain Music Project and “Forever My Grace” by Ian Gottleib in collaboration with New Muse Concerts. Their 2020 partnership with the Boston Conservatory composition department lead to recorded premiers of “Avoid and Evade” by Len Tetta, “Seed” by Kyujung Lim, “Fireflies” by Yeabon Jenny Yi, “Svargah” by S. Mrityunjai, “As of Now” by Lauren Greenberg, and “Lilac Streams” by Christa Duggan. Beyond these new recordings, arx duo is working on their first full length album of percussion works through a residency with Jack Straw Artists in Seattle, WA, to be released in the Spring of 2023.
As we all come back together to rebuild community connections this year, arx duo is planning new collaborations with composers Juri Seo, Angelique Poteat, Angie Chan Ramirez, Pascal Le Boeuf, and Steve Mackey among others. They will also collaborate with the musicians of the Dover String Quartet, Robert van Sice’s Percussion Collective, Aeolus Quartet, Bergamot Quart and Skyros Quartet. Their ambitious creative agenda will bring them to audiences in partnership with the Curtis Institute of Music, Princeton University, Kingston Chamber Music Festival, Lake George Music Festival and Walton Arts Center, and others all supporting the creation of their new works.
Arx duo is committed to inspiring the next generation of collaborators and creative performers. They have worked as guest teachers and mentors with students on three continents in the USA, Japan, the UK, Canada, and Ghana. They have served as guest faculty and artists in residence at Michigan State University and the Peabody institute of music. They have also worked with composition students at Princeton University and Boston Conservatory through residencies to further the understanding and creation of new music for percussion. They currently serve as faculty for the Curtis Young Artist Summer Program at the Curtis Institute of Music. Their non-profit organization “Arx Music Association” seeks to provide educational and performance opportunities for early career, student, and avocational musicians. They believe in strengthening communities through collaboration and engagement in the arts, and thrive on amplifying creative voices and presenting new music that makes percussion instruments and their community shine together.
With gratitude, arx duo endorses Adams Instruments, Evans Drumheads, Pearl drums, Vic Firth sticks and mallets, and Zildjian cymbals.
