Percussion, Collaboration, and Crossing Genres

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Join me as I talk with the members of the newly formed Mosaic Composers Collective, of which I am a member!
Collective Mission Statement:
Mosaic Composers Collective, featuring Kevin Arthur Jr., Aidan Arbona, Naamia Rivera, Murphy Severtson, Alexa Letourneau, and Athos Maelstrom, is a gathering of composers in pursuit of an intimate – yet fearless – sound exploration of humanity’s many colorful spheres. Centered in curiosity, the Collective strives to create and curate that which challenges the world around them.
Artist Bios:
New York-based composer and cellist ATHOS MAELSTROM (b. 2002) [note: Podcast audio uses Athos' deadname], originally from Windsor, Colorado, is a fierce advocate of new art who seeks to become a vessel for the sonic imaginations of the world around them. They believe that music is social in nature and deeply respect the personal tenets that have always thrived in human sound. Athos works to carefully curate this material themself, utilizing identity and anecdote as a space of community between composer, performer, and listener.
MURPHY SEVERTSON (b. 1999) is a composer, improvisor, and academic from Delray Beach, Florida. Currently based in New York City, they received their undergraduate degree from St. Olaf College in 2022. In 2021, they composed Standing Upright, a testament to the strength of those struggling with chronic illness, for the American Prize-winning St. Olaf Band, funded by the St. Olaf CURI Project. Recently, their music has explored Florida nature, specifically mangrove trees and forests. A commissioned piece for high school band and choir, Tangled Roots, will be premiered in early 2023. Murphy finds the greatest amount of joy in making music that allows the audience, performers, and all those involved to be equal and loved collaborators.
NAAMIA RIVERA (b. 2004) is a black/hispanic composer and flutist based in New York City. They went to Fiorello H. Laguardia for Instrumental Music and they were a student of Music Composition and Flute at The Juilliard School Music Advancement Program. As a composer, they are interested in writing music about social justice, improvisational music, electronic/ambient music, and music from different countries/cultures. Naamia is in the studio of Valerie Coleman, where they study Composition and Flute simultaneously.
New York based creative ALEXA LETOURNEAU (b. 1998) is a composer, flutist, singer, researcher, and educator. An Ohio native, Alexa began playing the flute at eight years old. Within weeks, they were taping 5 pens together to draw a staff on which to begin composing. At present, their works are focused upon an exploration of shared human identity through sonic journeys, and as a performer, they frequently play premiers and workshop pieces with living composers. Alexa is not only a musician, however; they spend their free time developing recipes, writing poetry, and sewing increasingly outrageous costumes.
KEVIN ARTHUR JR. (b. 2004) is a Philadelphia born composer and instrumentalist with training in both jazz and classical music. He was a member of the Philadelphia All-City Fellowship and attended The Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts. His musical style is uniquely contemporary in approach with powerful infusions of Jazz, yet deeply romantic at heart. He enjoys the creative freedom that composing gives him, along with the beautiful collaboration it fosters.
AIDAN ARBONA is a composer, pianist, and educator from Brooklyn, New York. Inspired by eclectic musical styles such as: Opera, Bebop, Funk, Lofi, Postmodernism, Grunge, and EDM, Aidan’s music is a mixture of dense harmony, syncopation, counterpoint, and interesting timbral mixtures. Eager to write new music for modern musicians, Aidan approaches music