In the 2012/13 season, Pekka Kuusisto gives the world premiere of Sebastian Fagerlund’s Violin Concerto, written for him and commissioned by the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra. He also travels to North America to work with Ottawa’s NAC Orchestra, Washington’s National Symphony Orchestra and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra as part of their New Creations Festival, which includes the North American premiere of Owen Pallett’s Violin Concerto as well as a performance of Four Iconoclastic Episodes with guitarist and composer Steve Mackey. In Europe, he returns to Swedish Chamber Orchestra and Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, and debuts with the Konzerthausorchester Berlin.
 
Recent performances have included a critically-acclaimed international tour with Britten Sinfonia, performing Adès’ Violin Concerto under the baton of the composer. Last season also saw him appear with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Oslo Philharmonic and Moscow State Symphony orchestras.
 
As a director, Pekka regularly works with the Britten Sinfonia and the Australian, London, Irish and St Paul Chamber Orchestras, as well as the Amsterdam and Västerås Sinfoniettas. Recent recital partners include Iiro Rantala, Anne Sofie von Otter, Angela Hewitt, Kimmo Pohjonen and Nicolas Altstaedt (with whom he tours to Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw and Konzerthaus Dortmund in November 2012). Pekka has also enjoyed a number of prestigious residencies, including at the Aldeburgh Festival and most recently at the Concertgebouw’s Robeco Zomerconcerten in 2012.

“Joanna is a vocalist taking risks and crossing musical chasms without a net” – All About Jazz London.
 
London born Joanna is a songstress who “possesses a crystalline voice” and whose writing style is poetic and idiosyncratic.
 
In 2012 she released her debut album Wild Swan, (available on iTunes & bandcamp) which received top-class reviews in London Jazz, All About Jazz, and Jazz Wise Magazine, amongst others, as well as radio play on BBCRadio3.
 
Since moving to New York City in September 2012 Joanna has pushed the boundaries with her songwriting, performance and musical ideas through forming exciting collaborations within the New York Jazz, Folk, Poetry, Circus, Theatre and Dance communities.
 
This year Joanna is excited to reveal the art of “The Ordinary Acrobat” – her recording and performance project, her persona and her band!!
 
Joanna’s performance credits include: Ronnie Scotts, The Barbican, The Queen Elizabeth Hall, The Spice of Life (London). Smalls Jazz Club, Le Poisson Rouge, Cornelia Street Cafe, The Muse (New York).
 
Collaboration credits include: Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Orchestra, Damien Sneed, Emmy the Great, violinist Pekka Kuusisto, Marques Toliver, Emma Smith, Mr Feldman (New York based rap artist).
 
Joanna has also worked as lyricist and vocalist for feature films including: Summer in February (starring Dan Stevens, directed by Christoper Menaul, and Dear Wendy (Lars Von Trier). (Both scored by Benjamin Wallfisch)
 
Joanna Wallfisch official site
 
her band:
Dan Tepfer, piano
Rick Rosato, bass
Colin Stranahan, drums