ARKAI is an award-winning string duo comprised of violinist Jonathan Miron and cellist Philip Sheegog. The two musicians will be performing at the UTC Fine Arts Center on Oct. 24.
Jonathan McNair said an upcoming visit from a pair of Juilliard Conservatory-trained string musicians should have a broad appeal across the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga campus—both among students and the community.
“These guys are versatile; they play electric versions of their violin and cello as well as the traditional instruments and they feature a pop-classical fusion in style,” said McNair, Ruth S. Holmberg Professor of American Music and the sponsor of ARKAI’s performance at the UTC Fine Arts Center on Monday, Oct. 24.
The free concert, open to the public, will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center’s Roland Hayes Concert Hall.
ARKAI is an award-winning string duo comprised of violinist Jonathan Miron and cellist Philip Sheegog.
“I am thrilled to present the ARKAI duo in concert to the Chattanooga and UTC communities,” McNair said. “These energetic, accomplished young musicians present an innovative model of how musicians interested in classical and popular music can transcend genres. That they do so with a lot of heart makes it even better.”
McNair said ARKAI would also participate in an on-campus workshop as part of their time at UTC.
ARKAI, winners of the 2021 Astral Artists National Auditions, has been described as a duo that pushes the limits of musical genre by combining classical brilliance with rock band energy, jazz combo spontaneity and string quartet elegance. Past engagements have included performances at the Metropolitan Opera, Joe’s Pub, Rockwood Music Hall, the Juilliard School, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and the 92nd Street Y in New York City, the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles.
“Letters from COVID,” the duo’s electronic debut composition, was performed for a global audience of more than 30,000 people from 182 countries at TED@PMI, a virtual event from the organizers of TED talks in partnership with the Project Management Institute.
ARKAI was selected by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs and the Association of American Voices to participate in the 2021-2022 American Music Abroad season. Through this program, ARKAI engaged in exchange programs with underserved audiences around the world with little or no access to American music, demonstrating the power of cultural diplomacy as a tool to bring people together.
ARKAI is currently creating its debut album, Aurora, in collaboration with seven-time Grammy Award-nominated producer Joel Hamilton.
Location: The UTC Fine Arts Center is at 752 Vine St. and the intersection with Palmetto.
For more information, visit UTC Fine Arts Center.
