Recipient of the 2019 American Prize in Orchestral Composition and the 2016 Doris Duke Performing Artist Award, composer Wayne Horvitz has created new work for The Kitchen, BAM, Seattle Symphony, Kronos Quartet, Berlin Jazz, Nocco, Vienna Radio Orchestra, Centrum, and ACT among others. Coming of age in NYC in the 1980s, Horvitz was initially recognized as a founding member of the “Downtown Scene” including his collaborations with Christian Marclay, John Zorn, William Parker, Butch Morris, Ikue Mori, Bill Frisell, George Lewis and Zeena Parkins, among others. Since moving to Seattle, he has been at the epicenter of a massive amount of creative music endeavors with a rotating cast of Seattle musicians.  

Tonight’s performance features Horvitz leading a string chamber orchestra in a set of conductions and new compositions featuring a number of improvising soloists including Sara Schoenbeck, Stephanie Richards, Leanna Keith, Ha Yang Kim and members of the ensemble. In addition, during the second set the nine-piece string ensemble will be joined by six percussionists.

The What’s Going On Strings Orchestra was founded in 2025 for South Hudson Music Project’s annual What’s Going On Festival, which explores conduction, improvisation, and the culture of structure. In addition to the What’s Going On Festival, South Hudson Music Project also presents a variety of community concerts, series, and festivals throughout the year.

Co-presented with South Hudson Music Project. Full festival details here.

(photo: Lisa Hagen-Glynn)