Del Sol Performing Arts Organization

In 2022 the Del Sol string quartet performed 51 concerts (with 8 world premieres), continuing to bring adventurous new chamber music to the public. These included online and outdoor concerts, as well as indoor performances and touring concerts away from the bay area as covid-19 pandemic restrictions were lifted. Highlights of Del Sol's 2022 concerts include: 1)performance in a new production of huang ruo's "angel island - oratorio" for voices and string quartet, presented by the university of ca, berkeley, with the university's chamber choir. This powerful piece, which Del Sol premiered in 2021, explores our nation's discriminatory immigration history through the poems of chinese immigrants carved into the barracks walls while detained on angel island during the years of the chinese exclusion act. 2)continuation of our "joy project" -- free, outdoor community concerts featuring new, short pieces written for Del Sol during the pandemic by diverse composers. Del Sol performed 10 of these concerts in 2022, several held in collaboration with san francisco public library branches, and streamed an online, nationwide performance of these pieces at which participating composers discussed their works. 3)presentation of our 3rd pacific pythagorean music festival, "modes of change," at old first church in san francisco, featuring music in alternate tunings and non-western harmonic systems. Del Sol premiered works by reza vali and maddie ashman, and 5 guest musicians also performed. 4)participation in "san francisco music day 2022" Performing music by julius eastman and takuma itoh on the mainstage herbst theater of the san francisco war memorial & Performing Arts center. 5)performances with partch ensemble premiering a new work by composer taylor brook at redcat in los angeles.

Recordings: in 2022, Del Sol and collaborating north indian musicians alam khan, arjun verma, and nilan chaudhuri recorded an album of new ensemble works for string quartet and traditional instruments (sarode, sitar, and tabla), developed during a multi-year project whose live premiere was postponed several times due to the pandemic. The album is expected to be released at the live premiere, now planned for fall 2023.

Educational outreach: in 2022, significant Del Sol educational outreach activities included: 1) coaching adult amateur musicians in chamber music performance at chamberfest, Del Sol's annual weekend workshop; 2) world premiere performances and recording of new works by composer fellows at "Connecticut summerfest," presented by the hartt school of music in west hartford, ct; 3) performances, workshops, and talks for other colleges & universities, conferences, and a new music platform; and 4) continuing our composer incubator program, mentoring early-career composers, and developing their new works for future premieres by Del Sol.

Commissioning of composers: in 2022, with support from chamber music america's classical commissioning program, we entered into a commissioning agreement with composer michael gilbertson. He will compose a new piece for string quartet and ondes martenot, an early type of electronic instrument played with a keyboard.