The incredible scope of Silver Roots' presentations is made possible by a rare mastery of their instruments and their commitment to inspiring, entertaining and educating audiences.
Silver Roots weaves music, history and candid commentary into magical performances that leave audiences and presenters asking for more (see testimonials).
Their concert programs provide a cross section of their work as ambassadors of music, knowledge, cultural understanding and joy.
Their workshops empower professional and amateur musicians with the tools to better perform, and audiences with the confidence to better understand.
With their vast performance experience and desire to help, no concept is too complex to tackle, and no problem too tough to solve.
For more, read on...
Click for Ancient Dances Info Sheet
(Includes repertoire, cross-curriculum topics, quotes, links and Q&A.)
Ancient Dances takes its cue from the dances and traditional music of Europe; up-tempo dance tunes from Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Germany, Ireland and England are presented with classic Silver Roots flair.
A narrative, theatrically woven throughout the program, tells the story of where the music traveled and how it came to be.
Solo works by J.S. Bach introduce Irish traditional tunes of like rhythm and step.
Excerpts from The Broken Consort by English Baroque composer Matthew Locke intertwine with works written almost 300 years later by modern American master Henry Cowell.
Silver Roots' musical arrangements and eclectic tastes pave the way for a mind-bending, sonic adventure!
View Irish Tunes Paired with Bach Works for Solo Violin, Flute & Cello by Maria (video 1), Divertissement No. 2 by Haydn (video 2) or Scandinavian Suite arranged by Shawn (video 3).
Japan Meets World Flute, Violin & Cello
Click for Japan Meets World Info Sheet
(Includes repertoire, cross-curriculum topics, quotes, links, Q&A and review - The Day the Crane Flew.)
An exploration of the intersection between Japanese music and the Western World, Japan Meets World showcases classical and traditional music from both hemispheres as well as works by Maria for violin, flute, cello, voice and dance.
Highlights include Maria's Tsuru for solo dancing violinist with fabric, Katherine Hoover's Kokopeli for solo flutist and Toshitsugu Ogihara's Trio.
"I enjoyed today's music very, very much! The presentation by these three great musicians so successfully represents Japan today: not only beautiful, refined, exotic but also dynamic, inclusive, powerful and fresh."
- Ambassador Nishida, Japanese Ambassador to Canada
View Japanese Folk Tune Medley by Maria (video 1), Kokopeli for solo flute by Katherine Hoover (video 2) or highlights from a performance at the Ana Tzarev Gallery in NYC (video 3).
.
Echoing Voices: A Musical History of America Flute, Violin & Cello
Click for Echoing Voices Info Sheet
(Includes repertoire, cross-curriculum topics, quotes, links, optional interactive activities & discussion points and article -
Echoing Voices: A musical tale of America’s immigrants on stage at Hofstra.)
Echoing Voices presents music from the homelands of immigrants through their stories and history of coming to America.
The music of 10 regions - the Netherlands, England, Ireland, Germany, Russia, Italy, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Egypt and China - is featured alongside interactive activities for audience members of all ages.
Echoing Voices' debut run as part of Lincoln Center's 2009/10 Meet the Artist series in New York City sold out so quickly that additional performances had to be booked to accommodate demand!
"Your ability to showcase virtuosic performance coupled with a palpable connection to your audience results in an absolutely riveting experience. I personally have learned so much about the cultures whose music you feature and the emotion with which each piece was composed..."
- Hillary McAndrew, Senior Manager, Meet the Artist, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Inc
View Devil's Dream + Chicken Reel arranged by Maria.
An investigation of the ties between folk and classical music from the European and American traditions, including dance rhythms, audience requests, lively sing-alongs, a Q & A session, and historical commentary on each work performed. Program toured throughout New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington DC, Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, Utah, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Minnesota, Illinois and Alberta.
View highlights from a Classical and Folk concert.
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Inc (New York, NY)
"Your ability to showcase virtuosic performance coupled with a palpable connection to your audience results in an absolutely riveting experience. I personally have learned so much about the cultures whose music you feature and the emotion with which each piece was composed. The audience response to each of your appearances has been tremendous! I would recommend your programs to anyone looking for an interesting, informative, and lively performance! I look forward to working with you many more times in the future!"
Hillary McAndrew, Senior Manager, Meet the Artist & Community Programming
Embassy of Japan in Canada (Ottawa, ON)
"I enjoyed today's music very, very much! The presentation by these three great musicians so successfully represents Japan today: not only beautiful, refined, exotic but also dynamic, inclusive, powerful and fresh."
Ambassador Nishida, Japanese Ambassador to Canada
The Colonial Theater (Pittsfield, MA)
"I was extremely impressed by the concert you presented. Your extraordinary musicianship was worth much more than the price of admission. What impressed me even more, as an experienced presenter of the performing arts, was your spot on sense of the right balance of content, spontaneity, charm, humor, scholarship, and technique. The net result was a concert that was entertaining, accessible, and artistically satisfying. You are superb musicians with a great sense for what pleases audiences."
Dave Fleming, President of Theater Strategic Services & Former Executive Director
Japan Foundation (Toronto, ON)
"The performance by Silver Roots was met with great enthusiasm and praise from the audience. In fact, as soon as we began promoting the concert, reservations were fully booked within one day. They are talented musicians with a gift for blending cultures, genres and eras in a way that beautifully embodies cultural exchange."
Masayuki Suzuki, Director
The Arts Center (Jamestown, ND)
"Your ensemble’s professional training and musical virtuosity was more than entertaining. The audience especially enjoyed the “stump the musicians” segment. What a clever way to engage an audience and to showcase your abilities… everything from Riverdance fiddling and dance to jazz, Asian-inspired, pop and classical. We had several calls from people who were unable to attend but had heard about it and wanted to know when you would return. We look forward to that date."
Taylor Barnes, Director
Leisure Learning Music Series (Basking Ridge, NJ)
"“I loved the energy, the variety, and the wonderful simpatico relationship you convey in playing together. I could tell the audience loved it, too. After programming twenty years of 16 performances a year, I have a sense of that "you can hear a pin drop" attention. Your "spoken notes" and response to audience questions and requests also made your program so engaging."
Phyllis McGuinness, Program Coordinator
Madison Valley Public Library (Ennis, MT)
"Silver Roots was a major hit in Ennis MT. They drew a standing room only audience on a Wednesday night in February. Ennis is a small town and there were 100 folks who came to hear them (10% of the total population). The audience was most involved by a poetry contest that Shawn suggested in the weeks before the concert. Two winning poems were read by the winners and were spontaneously accompanied by Silver Roots. They were very popular; folks appreciate their musicality AND their wonderful rapport with the audience."
Lucy Ennis, Library Board Trustee
Jericho Public Library Theater (Jericho, NY)
After decades of concert-going: "This is the first classical concert that didn't make me fall asleep or walk out!"
Since 2008, Silver Roots' members have presented workshops, masterclasses and outreach programs for students and audiences of universities, schools (Grade 3-12), libraries and youth orchestras, including Lincoln Center, The Juilliard School, Cornell University, Temple University, Bronx Community College, University of Alberta, University of Calgary and Irish Arts Center in NYC. Participants' ages have ranged from under 5 to over 65 with skill sets ranging from no musical experience to professional classical or folk musician. The following are synopses of select Silver Roots workshops:
Learn basic tools that allow you to instantly unleash your inner improviser! The workshop begins with exercises that sensitize and strengthen the students' ears (such as reproducing sounds and phrases by ear, group and individual call-and-response and musical telephone). Improvisation is then taught in two stages. Stage 1: students learn how to derive improvisational ideas from technique, personal experiences, senses, surroundings and movement. Stage 2: students learn to hone and thematically develop their improvisations by setting parameters (such as improvising within a set rhythm, key or tempo). Finally, students are divided into groups of 2 - 4 and exercises are assigned that utilize improvisation to create collaborative pieces.
This workshop can be tailored to meet the needs of both amateur and professional musicians. All ages, levels and instruments welcomed!
Silver Roots walks you through the steps involved in successfully producing your own concert, including seeking out a venue, creating a preparation timeline, structuring a program, speaking in front of an audience, and documenting/disseminating your work via audio and video recordings to review your performance and generate future opportunities. The definitive course on how to grow and sustain a rich career in music.
This workshop can be tailored to meet the needs of both amateur and professional musicians. All ages, levels and instruments welcomed!
Technique for String and Woodwinds
Learn how to play your instrument better! With simple answers to even the most complex questions, Silver Roots addresses all technical issues and obstacles that confront string and woodwind players.
This workshop can be tailored to meet the needs of both amateur and professional musicians. String and woodwind workshops can be presented together or separately. All ages and levels welcomed!
Playing Your Instrument with Artistry
With a focus on rhythm, phrasing, harmonic/melodic direction and stage presence, Silver Roots helps players turn their musical and artistic ideas into performance reality.
This workshop can be tailored to meet the needs of both amateur and professional musicians. All ages, levels and instruments welcomed!
The Art of Collaboration
Silver Roots shares tips and provides exercises that heighten your awareness through sharper listening, tighter rhythm, better intonation and faster sight reading.
This workshop can be tailored to meet the needs of both amateur and professional musicians. All ages, levels and instruments welcomed!
