Formed in 2009, line upon line percussion is committed to seeking new ways for percussion instruments to advance contemporary music. To date, the ensemble has commissioned and premiered 8 new works for percussion with 13 additional works currently in the collaborative process. In 2011, the Austin-based trio released a disc of commissioned, homegrown music and premiered their award winning project, seeing times are not hidden, a site-specific work for custom chimes. April 2013 brought the North American premiere of Hugues Dufourt’s massive, evening-length masterpiece, Erewhon.
After nominations in 2011 and 2012, the trio was named Best Ensemble by the Austin Critics’ Table in 2013. The Austinist called line upon line “the premier new music percussion ensemble in Texas and the South.”
line upon line maintains educational and outreach roles with the Austin Chamber Music Center and has performed and taught at numerous academic institutions around the United States. November 2012 marked their first appearance at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention. The group has previously performed at the Fusebox Festival, SXSW, Fast Forward Austin, the Victoria Bach Festival and the International Festival-Institute at Round Top.
line upon line percussion uses Mapex drums, Remo drumheads, Sabian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks and Grover Pro Percussion accessories.
More info: http://lineuponlinepercussion.org
Friction Quartet, recipient of the 2012 Berkeley Piano Club Emerging Artist Award, has established a reputation for edgy programming and exhilarating performance. Ever since Friction Quartet’s performance at the 2012 Hot Air Music Festival, where Examiner.com’s Stephen Smoliar hailed the quartet’s performance of John Adams’ String Quartet as “with energetic gusto” and with “no shortage of wit,” Friction has been inundated with requests from composers throughout California to perform their new works for the string quartet medium. Through artistic collaboration in varied mediums, the commissioning of new works, crossing into genres outside of classical music, adding movement to performances, and incorporating mixed medias, Friction Quartet creates a progressive and inviting concert atmosphere that attracts audiences of all ages and interests.
Biddy Connor: viola, voice, music saw, live effects and loops Judith Hamann: cello 
Described by the eminent Sergio Assad as “the most inventive and exciting young guitar ensemble today”, Mobius Trio has made it its mission to fully integrate the classical guitar into the 21st century’s nascent musical lexicon. The Trio exclusively performs music that they have commissioned; they seek to expand the guitar ensemble’s repertoire to encompass all of the myriad currents passing through contemporary art music. Mobius Trio has commissioned over a dozen composers in their first two years of existence, and that pace isn’t slowing. 
New music pianist, Regina Schaffer, is the founder of the performance collective New Keys; newfangled music for piano, which is celebrating their 10 year anniversary in 2014. She received her Bachelor’s of Music from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and a Master’s in Piano Performance and Literature from Mills College where she was able to focus on new and experimental music. At Mills College, Regina studied contemporary performance practice with avant-garde percussion legend William Winant and performed with his ensemble on keyboards. Regina is currently performing both with New Keys and as duo partner with Sarah Cahill. Additional information is available at www.reginaschaffer.com and www.newkeysconcert.org.