Duo Sequenza
Biography Duo Sequenza
Duo Sequenza
Originally founded in 1988, Duo Sequenza’s passion is to build new audiences for today’s classical music and promote the work of living composers. Comprised of flutist Debra Silvert and classical guitarist Paul Bowman, Duo Sequenza has toured throughout the United States, Asia, and Europe, enjoying enthusiastic ovations from audiences and acclaim from critics. Their formal debut at Geneva’s European International Festival included trans-Atlantic premieres of American new music.
Debra Silvert, “truly a gem of a flutist” (LaPorte Herald-Argus) with a "full and sunny golden tone" (The New Buffalo Times) and Paul Bowman, “among the best guitarists in the world” (Rheinische Post, Düsseldorf, Germany) and “… exceptionally versatile…negotiat[ing] a pastiche of styles with ease…” (Birmingham News), have been acclaimed in their duo performances as “...dancing...poignant...refreshing..." (Graafschapbode, Netherlands), "… brilliant, gossamer, and completely engaging… a delight to hear...fascinating…" (Arts Indiana Magazine), with “…collaboration and virtuosity of a high order...dramatic...imaginative...rhythmically alive...” (Hammond Times) and “...great subtlety of tone and breadth of dynamic expression, virtuosity and skill...wonderful…one of the finest flute and guitar duos...” (The New Buffalo Times). Duo Sequenza presently serves as the Chamber Ensemble-in-Residence at the historic Memorial Opera House in Valparaiso IN and continues to tour throughout the United States.
The 2015-16 season marked Duo Sequenza’s long-anticipated return to concertizing and commissioning after a 21-year long hiatus during which flutist Debra Silvert homeschooled her four children, and guitarist Paul Bowman continued his high-flying career trajectory without her! Their love of new music and living composers can be seen in their name which references Luciano Berio and his groundbreaking work. Duo Sequenza has commissioned and/or premiered works by Easley Blackwood, Andrea Clearfield, Katherine Hoover, Laura Kaminsky, Gary Schocker, Jorge Muñiz, Amin Sharifi, Francisco Carbonell, and others.
Continuing their commitment to audience development and living composers, the duo has developed several new initiatives including their popular Journey Beyond the Notes! an interactive concert featuring South Shore Suite by Jorge Muñiz, and Project Listen Up!, a unique residency program in which their musical artistry is embedded throughout the host community with numerous informal, short, curated performances in multiple non- traditional venues. Project Listen Up! repertoire is chosen for its organic tie-in to specific venues to create awareness, establish the relevancy of new music, and stimulate broad public interest in the chamber music genre. Conversation with attendees is lively and engaging. This outreach and education project was awarded an Arts Project Support grant from South Shore Arts, the Indiana Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
The duo’s 21-day tour of Asia and Europe consisted of classical concerts throughout Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, highlighted by their formal European Debut at the Palais de L’Athenee in Geneva at the 1990 European International Festival. Only 30 artists were selected for this honor from an applicant pool of more than 1400. This performance featured the European debut of Pulitzer Prize winning composer Ned Rorem’s masterpiece, Romeo and Juliet.
Much of Duo Sequenza’s early domestic touring was underwritten by the Presenter Touring Programs of the Indiana Arts Commission and Arts Midwest in addition to their performances under the auspices of Community Concerts, then a division of Columbia Artists Management, Inc. From 1989 until 1992, Duo Sequenza was the In-Residence Artist Ensemble at the Center for Visual and Performing Arts in Munster, Indiana. Chosen to present the 1992 New Composer’s Concert at the Bar Harbor (Maine) Music Festival, it was there that they gave the world premiere of their first commission, Rondo Caprice, Op. 35 by the iconic Easley Blackwood.
Duo Sequenza is governed by the Board of Directors of Sequenza Chamber Music, Inc., an Indiana-based, IRS-approved 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation.
