West Coast String Summit

May 25 + 26, 2024

Presented by Vancouver Improvised Arts Society, in partnership with Vancouver New Music, The Only Animal Theatre Company, KW Studios, and NOW Society

Back for its second year, the West Coast String Summit brings an annual celebration of creative music and the power of strings to The Ironworks and 8east.

Join us for two days of concerts, workshops, and artist talks that showcase contemporary improvising and experimental string players, composers, and bandleaders, both emerging and fully established in their fields. The West Coast String Summit is a place to meet, collaborate, listen, learn, and create new connections within the experimental string world. Sharing ideas through composition, improvisation, and dialogue, artists and audiences will benefit from hearing diverse local and visiting musicians perform their genre-defying works by gaining inspiration for what is possible on traditional stringed instruments and a deeper understanding of the cultures they come from.

West Coast String Summit – Full Schedule

Slow Social #4
Saturday, May 25 | 5 – 7:30pm

The Ironworks, Back Room (235 Alexander Street) [map]
Free

For Slow Social #4 we’ll be hearing themed readings by Julia Ulehla alongside musical performances by Toni-Leah C. Yake and Anju Singh.

The Only Animal’s Slow Socials, is an ongoing series of gatherings that invites the community to connect to joyful climate futures through relaxed textile creation, environmental readings, and musique d’ameublement (‘furniture music’).

Presented by The Only Animal, in partnership with Vancouver Improvised Arts Society and The Public Swoon.

Laura Ortman • Chamber of Bones: Jesse Zubot & Pura Fé with Strings • Marina Hasselberg
Saturday, May 25 | 8pm (doors 7:30pm)

The Ironworks, Main Room (235 Alexander Street) [map]
Tickets $23 general / $17 students + seniors (valid ID required) / $12 child under 12
Available at Eventbrite.

Brooklyn-based Apache experimental violinist and vocalist, Laura Ortman creates visceral, all-consuming, and powerful performances.

Volinist Jesse Zubot and vocalist, Pura Fé are backed by an 8-piece local string ensemble for what is sure to be an inspirational set.

Cellist Marina Hasselbert will open the night with a solo performance that showcases works from her recent album, presenting both original compositions and improvisations using acoustic, prepared, and processed performance techniques. 

Presented by VIAS. Laura Ortman’s performance is supported by Vancouver New Music.

Improv at 8east
Sunday, May 26 | 8pm

8east (8 East Pender Street) [map]
Free

Join us for a night of improv with local and visiting artists.

Workshop
Sunday, May 26 | 5-7pm

8east (8 East Pender Street) [map]
Free workshop. Space is limited. Please RSVP to reserve your spot at info@improvisedarts.ca.

Improvisation as a process of discovery, a workshop for bowed string instrument musicians with Lan Tung.