The Natalie L. Haslam Distinguished Artist/Lecturer Residency Series
A Celebration of World-Class Artistry & Transformative Collaboration
The Natalie Haslam Distinguished Artist/Lecturer Residency Series is dedicated to bringing world-class artists, musicians, and scholars to the University of Tennessee Natalie L. Haslam College of Music. This series fosters collaboration, inspires students, and enriches the broader community by offering access to exceptional artistry and expertise. Through these residencies, we create transformative learning experiences that bridge the gap between academic study and professional practice. Made possible by a generous gift, this series reflects our commitment to excellence in education and the arts, ensuring that our students are prepared for dynamic careers in an ever-evolving music industry.
Inaugural Residency: Akropolis Reed Quintet
Founded in 2009, the GRAMMY nominated, Billboard charting, 7-time national prize winning Akropolis Reed Quintet is “a sonically daring ensemble who specializes in performing new works with charisma and integrity” (BBC Music Magazine).
Celebrating their 16th season as “a sonically daring ensemble who specializes in performing new works with charisma and integrity” (BBC Music Magazine), the GRAMMY® nominated Akropolis Reed Quintet comprises five reed players and entrepreneurs unbounded by limits or categorization. Described by The Wire as a “collective voice driven by real excitement and a sense of adventure,” Akropolis has graced the Classical Billboard Charts with each of their last three albums, including #2 in April, 2024. Winner of seven national chamber music prizes including the 2014 Fischoff Gold Medal, Akropolis is known for performing “works that brilliantly exploit their unique instrumentation” (Gramophone). Composed of the same five members that brought about its founding in 2009, Akropolis delivers 120 concerts and educational events worldwide each year and has premiered and commissioned more than 150 works by living artists and composers.
Experimenters and creators at their core, the five artists of Akropolis are routinely lauded for their boldness and innovative spirit. As The Wire commented: “There’s nothing tentative in their approach, and that extends to their programming of multifariously challenging and imaginative new works.” Akropolis has collaborated with poets, a metal fabricator, dancers, small business owners, string quartets, pop vocalists, and others from all walks of life. The ensemble’s 6th album, Are We Dreaming the Same Dream?, with two-time GRAMMY-nominated composer/pianist Pascal Le Boeuf and drummer Christian Euman, was released in April 2024 on Bright Shiny Things.
The quintet is also known for powerful collaborations with youth and others within its Detroit community. Certified as a 510(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Akropolis is the recipient of the 2015 Fischoff Educator Award, as well as seven consecutive grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. The ensemble runs a Detroit-based summer festival called Together We Sound and holds annual, school year-long music composition residencies at Cass Tech, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Detroit School of Arts high schools. Akropolis also produces the Akropolis Chamber Music Institute, a 10-day artist training and mentorship program in Petoskey, MI.
Akropolis Residency Events Schedule
These events offer a rare opportunity to engage with one of the most innovative ensembles in the world and experience the intersection of artistry, education, and community. Don’t miss out on this exceptional series!
Monday, February 17, 2025
2:45 – 4:30 p.m. – Open Dress Rehearsal | Natalie L. Haslam Music Center, Powell Recital Hall
Watch as Akropolis rehearses for the evening’s performance, including rehearsal for the world premiere of UT Professor Ryan Lindveit’s composition. Composition students will also participate, gaining firsthand experience.
7:30 p.m. – Formal Concert | Natalie L. Haslam Music Center, Powell Recital Hall | FREE TO THE PUBLIC
Enjoy a world-class concert featuring the Akropolis Reed Quintet, including the highly anticipated world premiere of Professor Ryan Lindveit’s composition.
Tuesday, February 18, 2025
11:20 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Music Business Class Lecture | Natalie L. Haslam Music Center, Powell Recital Hall
A special lecture by Akropolis for Music Business students, focusing on essential industry topics such as copyright, master rights, licensing, distribution, and marketing under a nonprofit umbrella. This lecture also touches on building a brand and navigating the nonprofit music business model.
12:55 – 2:10 p.m. – Chamber Music Masterclass | Natalie L. Haslam Music Center, Choral Room
UT’s Woodwind Chamber Groups will perform in this masterclass for Akropolis, showcasing their chamber music skills and receiving feedback from the ensemble.
What’s Next in the Series?
Season 2025 – 2026
Ramzi Aburedwan: Music and Advocacy in Harmony
Renowned performer, composer, conductor, and peace advocate Ramzi Aburedwan brings a powerful blend of artistry and activism to his residency. Featured in documentaries and Sandy Tolan’s acclaimed book Children of the Stone: The Power of Music in a Hard Land, Aburedwan’s work exemplifies the transformative power of music. During his residency, he will offer:
- Lecture Recital: Exploring his unique musical journey and advocacy.
- Guest Lectures in Musicology: Sharing insights into cultural and historical perspectives in music.
- Masterclasses and Individual Lessons: Working directly with instrumentalists to hone their craft.
- Interdisciplinary Collaborations: Partnering with Global Studies, Global Engagement, and the humanities to foster cross-disciplinary connections.
Andrea Clearfield: Bridging Cultures Through Composition
Andrea Clearfield is an award-winning composer of music for orchestra, opera, chorus, chamber ensemble, dance, and multimedia collaborations. Clearfield creates deep, emotive musical languages that build cultural and artistic bridges. She has been praised by the New York Times for her “graceful tracery and lively, rhythmically vital writing”, the Philadelphia Inquirer for her “compositional wizardry” and “mastery with large choral and instrumental forces”, the L.A. Times for her “fluid and glistening orchestration” and by Opera News for her “vivid and galvanizing” music of “timeless beauty”. Her works are performed widely in the U.S. and abroad.
Clearfield’s residency activities will include:
- Faculty Performance: Featuring works by Clearfield that highlight other art forms such as visual art and poetry.
- Music and Business Lecture: Offering insights into the professional landscape for composers.
- Composer’s Workshop: Workshopping and coaching student compositions.
- Studio Class Q&A Session: Engaging students in an interactive discussion about her creative process, commissioning, building a career in classical music and more.
- Chamber Music Coachings: Mentoring student ensembles performing her works.
- Student Chamber Music Concert: Showcasing Clearfield’s chamber and small ensemble works.