Welcome to our 2026-27 Distinguished Artist Series!
- Elsewhere Ensemble: September 2, 2026
- icarus Quartet: October 27, 2026
- Nahre Sol: February 13, 2027
- Anthea Kreston: April 4, 2027
Elsewhere Ensemble with Camille Ortiz, soprano, and Kenneth Overton, baritone
Wednesday, September 2, 2026 • 7:30 p.m.
Hudson Hall, Mary Stuart Rogers Music Center
“Soprano Camille Ortiz was compelling…the emotional impact was undeniable. The trio of [violinist] Mr. Dixon, violist Arnaud Ghillebaert, and cellist Kathryn Brunhaver was excellent, never overshadowing Ms. Ortiz, but rather heightening the impact.”
–New York Concert Reviews
“In an emotional powder-keg of a role, Kenneth Overton soars with his potent baritone and poignant renditions of every number.”
–Limelight St. Louis
Grammy-winning baritone Kenneth Overton and internationally acclaimed soprano Camille Ortiz join the Eugene-based Elsewhere Ensemble for a powerful evening of music and contemplation. Together, they will perform Invocation – a prayer for peace, an innovative new work by the ensemble’s violinist, Colin Pip Dixon, who is joined by Arnaud Ghillebaert (viola) and Kathryn Brunhaver (cello). Drawing text from activists, mystics, and scientists across the globe, this hauntingly beautiful piece offers a moment of reflection surrounding one of the most urgent questions of our time: do our beliefs drive us further into violence, or lead us toward deeper peace and reconciliation?
Tickets available soon!
About the Artists:
https://www.kennethoverton.com/
https://www.camilleortizsoprano.com/
https://elsewhereensemble.com/
icarus Quartet - piano, percussion and multimedia
Tuesday, October 27, 2026 • 7:30 p.m.
Hudson Hall, Mary Stuart Rogers Music Center
“This is music making of the highest order.”
–Composer Paul Lansky
The famed half-piano, half-percussion icarus Quartet visits Willamette University to present Eclectic Electric, a thrilling program that explores the intersection of live acoustic instruments and electronic music through groundbreaking contemporary works by Stephen Downing, Kian Ravaei, Bobby Ge, Scott Lee, Erik Texter, and Christian Quiñones. This performance features diverse sonic elements ranging from sampled lo-fi hip hop beats and a Dominican güira to a rich array of electronic gear. At one point, the ensemble eschews their traditional acoustic setup for synthesizers, drum machines, and MIDI controllers, creating a dynamic space where chamber music meets Electronic Dance Music. Don't miss this opportunity to see an ensemble redefining the future of live chamber music with a performance that truly has something for everyone.
Tickets available soon!
About the Artists:
https://icarusquartet.org/
Anthea Kreston, violin
Sunday, April 4, 2027 • 7 p.m.
Cone Chapel, Waller Hall
“An extraordinarily brilliant musician…she impressed us with her warm-heartedness, boundless energy and – above all – her fantastic qualities as a musician and violinist.”
–Eckart Runge, Artemis Quartet
The Distinguished Artists Series is proud to welcome back internationally celebrated violinist Anthea Kreston, this time as a solo performer and author offering a unique and exciting new production, Crescendo: Live. Based on her memoir, this performance blends violin artistry with spoken-word anecdotes, taking the audience on an intimate journey through her life in music. Currently the first violinist of the Delgani Quartet and formerly the only American member of Germany’s legendary Artemis Quartet, Kreston has graced world-renowned stages from Carnegie Hall to Amsterdam's Concertgebouw. Join us in Cone Chapel for a powerful evening of live music and storytelling.
Tickets available soon!
“Crescendo is a searingly honest look at the classical music world from within and manages to be as funny and uplifting as it is devastating.”
–Ling Ling Huang
“This tale sparkles.”
–Blair Tindall
About the Artist:
https://www.antheakreston.com/
Willamette University Music Department
Rogers Music Center
503-370-6255
music-info@willamette.edu
