The Ensemble Will Perform in Seattle, New York, Chicago, the UK, Vermont, and More 

The often-described exploratory Wet Ink Ensemble will open its 21st season in 2019-2020 with performances spanning the United States—as well as briefly crossing the pond for a performance in the UK. 

The Wet Ink Ensemble is a unique, celebrated collective of performers, improvisers, composers, and artists that are dedicated to the path of adventurous—and sometimes eccentric—music-making. Highly celebrated and critically acclaimed, Wet Ink’s work is rooted in an ethos of innovation through collaboration, extending from the music and the unique performance practice developed in a “band” type atmosphere. 

Kicking of their 2019-2020 season with a rightful bang, the Wet Ink Ensemble will host two performances at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, quickly followed by a performance of the works of Columbia University undergraduate composers in NYC,  and a collaboration with vocalist Charmaine Lee and UK-based composers Kristina Wolfe, Bryn Harrison, and Pierre Alexandre Tremblay. 

“The 2019-2020 season features the debut of several ambitious projects by Wet Ink band members that celebrate the group’s unique performance practice, including the world premiere of a duo for voice and piano by Eric Wubbels, written for voice phenom Charmaine Lee; the world premiere of Kate Soper’s opera The Romance of the Rose, co-produced by Peak Performances @ Montclair State (NJ); and the April 2020 release of a new album on Carrier Records of large-scale works for septet by Sam Pluta and Alex Mincek,” said Wet Ink Executive Director Josh Modney. 

With the excitement of a diverse, unique 2019-2020 season comes another thrilling announcement from the ensemble—cellist Mariel Roberts, who in the past has often collaborated with the group, has officially been appointed as a verified member of the Wet Ink Ensemble for the 21st season. 

“I'm incredibly thrilled and honored to be joining Wet Ink Ensemble, a group that has inspired me and shaped my musical life for many years now,” said Roberts.

“The members of this ensemble are some of my most valued and trusted collaborators, and it is truly a privilege to make music with such exceptionally virtuosic and like-minded artists. I can't wait for the exciting work we will be creating together in the coming seasons!”

The group expresses similar sentiments.

We are also delighted to welcome our trusted collaborator Mariel Roberts as a co-director and member of the Wet Ink band,” said Modney. 

“We have been fortunate to work with Mariel on solo, chamber, and large ensemble projects for nearly a decade, and are tremendously excited at the ways in which her phenomenal cello playing and extraordinary artistry will inform Wet Ink’s next chapter as an octet.”

The extensive list of tour dates and details for Wet Ink’s 2019-2020 season is available on their website.