The Living Earth Show

CO-PRODUCERS

Called “outstanding” by the San Francisco Chronicle, “transcendent” by the Charleston City Paper, and “a fully distorted perpetual motion of awesome” by I Care If You Listen, The Living Earth Show (guitarist Travis Andrews and percussionist Andy Meyerson) is a megaphone and canvas for some of the world’s most progressive artists. One of the premiere contemporary chamber arts ensembles in the United States, The Living Earth Show received the grand prize in the SAVVY Chamber Arts Competition and runner-up in the open division of the M-Prize Chamber Arts Competition, has commissioned and premiered over 60 new works by some of the most vital composers in the world, released two critically acclaimed albums, and has performed, lectured, and given masterclasses across the country.

Samuel Adams

COMPOSER

Samuel Adams (b. 1985, San Francisco, CA) is a composer of acoustic and electroacoustic music. His work has been hailed as “mesmerizing” and “music of a composer with a personal voice and keen imagination” by The New York Times and “wondrously alluring” by the San Francisco Chronicle. Adams is currently a Mead Composer-in-Residence with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. During his tenure with the CSO, Adams will create new works for the orchestra and co-curate the CSO’s critically-acclaimed MusicNOW series with fellow Composer-in-Residence Elizabeth Ogonek. Adams has received commissions from Carnegie Hall, San Francisco Symphony, New World Symphony, and St. Lawrence String Quartet and has collaborated with many of today's leading voices in contemporary music, including Spektral Quartet, The Living Earth Show, pianist Sarah Cahill and conductor David Robertson. Recent highlights include Quartet Movement for the Spektral Quartet and the world premiere of Light Readings by the Northwestern Bienen School of Music Contemporary/Early Vocal Ensemble and Members of the Chicago Symphony. In the spring of 2018, the CSO will feature his many words of love on their tour of the East Coast. Adams grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area where he participated in the improvised music community from a young age. He attended Stanford University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in composition and electroacoustic music while performing contrabass in the Bay Area. He received a master's degree in composition from The Yale School of Music.

Vanessa Thiessen

CHOREOGRAPHER

Vanessa Thiessen is Resident Choreographer for Post:Ballet, where she has created works including Junction and Lavender Country, which was recently nominated for Best Dance Performance by SF Classical Voice. Together with Robert Dekkers, she has co-choreographed works for Grand Rapids Ballet and Post:Ballet. She's assisted KT Nelson in the creation of works for Sacramento Ballet, Amy Seiwert’s Imagery, RAWdance, Owen/Cox Dance Group, LEVYdance, and Opera Parallél. She danced with ODC Dance, Smuin Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Post:Ballet, and Amy Seiwert’s Imagery. Vanessa resides in Portland, Oregon, and teaches at Reed College, Northwest Dance Project, BodyVox, and Oregon Performing Arts School.