11 New Local Ensembles You Should Know

By Hannah Edgar, WFMT – March 13, 2019

In 2017, a handful of Civic Orchestra musicians convened at violinist Hannah Christiansen’s apartment. They were disenchanted with the politics and pomp of conductor-led ensembles but loved being in a group with a meaty, orchestral sound. That apartment party ended up being the genesis of Unsupervised, a conductorless chamber orchestra.

Not only does the group perform larger-scale works by Beethoven and Ravel with a chamber sensibility, but each member also participates in programming. New music buffs will be heartened to see that contemporary works aren’t being given short shrift in Unsupervised’s seasons so far. According to bassist and founding member Jessica Wolfe, “ever evolving” programming was always a core part of Unsupervised’s mission.

“Performing in an orchestra with a conductor is always rewarding, but Unsupervised really puts the creativity in the hands of the musicians,” Wolfe says. Visit website

Read the full list at wfmt.com.