Twin Cities based Strains New Music Ensemble specializes in the creation, performance, and promotion of new contemporary chamber music. Since its founding in 2015, Strains has premiered over fifteen compositions by composers Katherine Bergman, Joey Crane, Michael Duffy, Sam Krahn, Scott L. Miller, Ann Millikan, Ted Moore, Joshua Musikantow, Daniel Nass, Tiffany M. Skidmore, Schuyler Tsuda, and Adam Zahller. They have performed in Antonello Hall at the MacPhail School of Music, Dreamland Arts, Fallout Arts, Honey, The Schubert Club, SPACE, Studio Z, The Tilsner, the University of Minnesota, at the SEAMUS National Conference at Saint Cloud State University. They have been featured on concert series in close collaboration with 113 Composer Collective and the Spitting Image Collective, and have given educational workshops to audiences across the Twin Cities.
Core members are James DeVoll (flute), Jeffery Kyle Hutchins (saxophone), Carlynn Savot (cello), and Jeremy Johnston (percussion).
Additional musicians include Erika Blanco (violin), Joey Crane (cello), Martin Gelland (violin), Cecilia Gelland (viola), Betsy McCann (conductor), Pat O'Keefe (clarinet), Nanyi Neil Qiang (piano), Stan Rothrock (conductor), Sam Rudy (violin), Shannon Wettstein-Sadler (piano), Adam Zahller (guitar)
