Town Hall Seattle: Gretchen Yanover Findings Night – Cello in Connection
$5 (ages 22 & under free)
- Gretchen Yanover, cello
- Anna Doak, double bass
- Brandon Vance, violin
- Ben Thomas, cajón
Town Hall’s Artist-in-Residence, cellist Gretchen Yanover, will perform new works as well as works-in-progress that have evolved during her residency. The program will include music for string trio in addition to electric cello, with Gretchen’s NW Sinfonietta colleagues and bandmates Anna Doak (double bass) and Brandon Vance (violin) joining onstage. The evening will also include performances with Ben Thomas (cajón), as well as the poetry of Reagan Jackson and dance elements by The Willows.
Please note: Masks and proof of vaccination are required for in-person attendance. More information here: https://townhallseattle.org/plan-your-visit/building-policies/
About Gretchen Yanover, cello
Cellist Gretchen Yanover creates spacious string atmospheres woven with warm melodies. She performs with her electric cello and looping pedal, in addition to her acoustic cello performance and recording work. Yanover began her musical life in Seattle public schools, falling in love with the cello's deep sound. Gretchen pursued both performance and music education at University of Washington, embracing an interwoven path of teaching and performing. Ms. Yanover guided students in music for 17 years, while at the same time growing her own solo performing career. Gretchen started playing with a loop sampler around 2001 and it changed her musical life, inspiring her to improvise and compose. Yanover's 5th album will be released March 2024.
Gretchen performs throughout the Pacific Northwest as a soloist on her electric cello, while continuing her classical music life. She has played with Northwest Sinfonietta orchestra since 1998, and is a member of Northwest Sinfonietta's DEI task force, working to make meaningful changes in the classical music culture, along with creating connections in the community. Northwest Sinfonietta has featured Gretchen as a soloist on her electric cello on several occasions.
Yanover has appeared as a soloist for the Earshot Jazz Festival, and presented at TEDx Seattle. She created music for and performed with LeVar Burton for LeVar Burton Reads live, and has had compositions commissioned by Seattle Symphony, Seattle Pacific University, and University of Oregon. Gretchen was the recipient of a Shunpike Artist residency, and was the Town Hall Seattle 2021 Fall Artist in Residence. She is the recipient of a 2023 CityArtist grant from the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture.
Gretchen loves exploring on foot, cooking vegan dishes, reading, and social tango dancing.
https://gretchenyanover.com/About Anna Doak, double bass
Anna Doak is a member of the Northwest Sinfonietta and serves as principal bassist/teaching artist with the Seattle Collaborative Orchestra. She has also performed with the Seattle Symphony, Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra, Northwest Chamber Orchestra, the National Academy Orchestra of Canada and on numerous recording projects. A founding member of the chamber ensemble Different Drummer, Anna was awarded a Jack Straw artist support grant in 2015 and again in 2020. She taught at Western Washington University for 5 years, and after starting a family decided to focus on building her home teaching in Seattle where she now teaches students ranging in age from 4 to 80. In 2009 she became the Northwest region's first Suzuki Bass Teacher, and in 2020 the Suzuki Association of the Americas awarded Anna the position of Suzuki Bass Teacher Trainer.
http://www.basschurch.com/different-drummerAbout Brandon Vance, violin
Internationally acclaimed Scottish fiddler and violinist Brandon Vance is the recipient of Scotland's 2017 Royal National Mòd "Sutherland Cup" in Scottish Fiddle, as well as being the youngest to win the U.S. National Open Scottish Fiddling Championship in both 1999 and 2001.
Vance has performed and taught internationally, serving as a guest lecturer at the University of Limerick's Irish World Academy, appearing as guest artist for the 50th Anniversary of the Armagh Piper's Club at the William Kennedy Piping Festival, and being selected as a featured soloist at the 2017 Scottish Royal National Mòd in Fort William.
Vance holds a B.M. and M.M. in Violin Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music. Vance is the second violinist of the Skyros Quartet, and fiddler for folk ensembles Keltoi, as well as being a founding member of Celtic ensemble Dréos, and crossover ensemble Crossing the North Sea. He is a member of the chamber orchestra Northwest Sinfonietta and baroque ensemble Pacific MusicWorks, as well as having a vibrant career as a recording artist and composer. Vance had the honor of performing his own composition, Gael Storm, with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra at Severence Hall and premiering his Shetland Fantasia for String Quartet as part of the Auburn Symphony Orchestra Chamber Series.
http://www.brandonvance.com/