Proteus Ensemble

Jennifer Grim, Flute
Gilad Harel, Clarinet
Yuko Naito, Violin
Alberto Parrini, Cello
James Johnston, Piano

The Proteus Ensemble is one of the most sought-after mixed ensembles in the U.S. After winning top prizes at the Chamber Music Yellow Springs and Fischoff National Chamber Music Competitions, the quintet gave a sold-out New York debut at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, and has since given concerts and masterclasses across the country. Recent performance highlights include the ensemble’s Lincoln Center debut as part of the Great Performers Series in 2006, the Celebrity Series in St. George, Utah, and a 3-year residency as the Aspen Music Festival’s Contemporary Ensemble.

The Proteus Ensemble, which takes its name from the Greek prophet god who was capable of assuming many forms, brings a fresh perspective to a wide variety of musical forms from the distant past to the present day. With its winds, strings and keyboard instruments, the ensemble draws on its inherent diversity to create eclectic, yet coherent programs that include the classics of the standard repertoire and the many currents of recent music. The quintet often divides into smaller combinations allowing it to perform an even wider variety of repertoire that includes quartets, trios, duos, and solos.

The ensemble has also had great success with its original arrangements, including orchestral and piano works such as Debussy’s Afternoon of a Faun, Gershwin’s Three Preludes, and Copland’s Appalachian Spring, as well as compositions by Bach and jazz legend Eric Dolphy.

Current programs include “Americans in Paris” which presents works by Carter, Copland, Piazzolla, Villa-Lobos, Ned Rorem, and Gershwin; and “Paris-Vienna 1900,” highlighting the cultural differences and musical innovations at the beginning of the 20th century. The 2006-07 season included a concert at the Kosciuszko Foundation in New York, the British Art Museum at Yale University, and concerts in Pennsylvania, Utah, and California.

The members of the Proteus Ensemble have degrees from the Juilliard School, Curtis Institute of Music, Yale and Stanford Universities and the Paris Conservatory. They are currently based in New York City.