Duo Bio
Hailed by critics around the world for their “superb”
and “extraordinary” musicianship, Kathryn Lockwood and Yousif
Sheronick join forces in a rare combination of viola and percussion.
With heritages stretching as far as Australia, Lebanon and the United
States, the Lockwood/Sheronick Project is a true “duo of the world.”
Drawing from their melting pot home of New York City, LSP has commissioned
composers in the fields of Jazz, European Classical and World Traditions
encompassing diverse and creative repertoire that is both aurally and
visually alluring. Recent commissions include works by jazz bass legend
John Patutucci and master frame drummer Glen Velez. Along side the viola,
the percussion batterie includes the durbahek (goblet drum) and riq
(tambourine) from the Middle East as well as the West African djembe
and frame drums from around the globe.
Lockwood and Sheronick are members of the Lark Chamber
Artists (Lark Quartet) and Ethos Percussion Group respectively and have
collaborated with some of the worlds leading musicians including Philip
Glass, Yo-Yo Ma, Branford Marsalis. Michael Tree, Pacifica Quartet,
Trio Solisti, Simon Shaheen and Paul Winter. These two extraordinary
musicians have criss-crossed the globe playing some of the world’s
most high profiled concert venues and festivals. LSP had their first
tour to Australia this summer with appearances at the International
Viola Congress in Adelaide and the Australian National Academy of Music
in Melbourne. While on tour the duo also teaches masterclasses and clinics
for string soloists and ensembles as well as world drumming.
Kathryn Lockwood, Viola
Kathryn Lockwood has been hailed as a violist of exceptional talents
in reviews around the country. The Cleveland Plain Dealer proclaimed,
"...Lockwood played the vociferous viola cadenza with mahogany
beauty and vivid character." 2005 marked the release of Kathryn's
solo recital CD of Viola Music by Inessa Zaretsky, "Fireoptics",
which Strad declared "Lockwood is absolutely inside the music's
idiom finding appropriate tonal shadings". In addition to touring
and recording with the Lark Quartet, Kathryn Lockwood performs with
numerous other prestigious groups including Trio Solisti, Triple Helix,
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and the Muir Quartet. Kathryn moved from
her homeland of Australia to the United States in 1991 only to capture
some of the most sought-after awards in the country including the Naumburg
Chamber Music Award, Grand Prize at the Coleman Chamber Music Competition,
Concert Artists Guild Management Award, and awards at solo competitions
such as the Primrose Competition, Washington International Competition,
and the Pasadena Instrumental Competition. Before relocating to New
York in 2001 Kathryn held the position of violist of the Pacifica Quartet
since its inception. As an original member of Pacifica Quartet, Kathryn
was heard live on National Public Radio's "Performance Today"
and on the stages of Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Ravinia's Bennett
Gordon Hall, Corcoran Gallery, St. Lawrence Center, and University of
Thessaloniki /Greece. Kathryn collaborated with violist Michael Tree
on an all Dvorak CD and composer Easley Blackwood on recordings released
by Cedille Records. Kathryn performs regularly with Russian born pianist
and composer, Inessa Zaretsky, with whom she has recorded Zaretsky's
"Fireoptics" on Bribie Recordings. Collaborations include
such artists as Cho-Liang Lin, Judith Ingolfsson, Branford Marsalis,
St. Lawrence Quartet, and the Bill T Jones Dance Company. Currently
on faculty at University of Massachusetts/Amherst, Rutgers University
in NJ, the Concordia Conservatory in Bronxville NY and the Boston University
Tanglewood Institute, Kathryn was previously on the faculty at Northwestern
University, University of Chicago, Interlochen Academy, Music Institute
of Chicago, and National Music Camp in Australia. Kathryn earned her
Master's Degree with Donald McInnes at the University of Southern California,
and her Bachelor of Music Degree from the Queensland Conservatorium
of Music with Elizabeth Morgan. www.kathrynlockwood.com
Yousif Sheronick, Percussion
Hailed by the New York Times for his “dazzling improvisations”
YOUSIF SHERONICK appears internationally as soloist and chamber musician
with world-renowned groups and artists such as Philip Glass, Glen Velez,
Foday Musa Suso, Simon Shaheen, Henry Threadgill, Lark Chamber Artists
and Paul Winter Consort. Mr. Sheronick's unique style encompasses traditions
and instruments from the Middle East, North and West Africa, Brazil,
India, and Europe. His ability to work in such diverse genres is due
to having studied contemporary classical, jazz, world and rock music,
which he seamlessly fuses into his playing. Critics say Yousif “is
capable of creating hypnotic atmospheres” (Mundoclasico) where
he "transported the listener to another dimension." (Ritmic).
Prestigious venue performances include Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center,
Royal Festival Hall (London) and Wigmore Hall (London). Distinguished
collaborators include Yo-Yo Ma, Branford Marsalis, Pandit Samir Chatterjee,
Marcel Khalife, Sonny Fortune, Cindy Blackman and the Pacifica String
Quartet.
Mr. Sheronick recently released his critically acclaimed
solo CD titled "Silk Thread" which Modern Drummer Magazine
calls “a testimony to his genius”. He also released a Riq
Instructional Video which Rhythm Magazine (UK) says “is a must
to uncover the mysteries of this ancient instrument.” He has appeared
throughout the US, Europe, Middle East, Asia and Australia with festival
appearances including the JVC and Newport Jazz Festivals, Jazztel (Madrid),
Renaissance Festival (Rethymno, Greece) Early Music Festival (Regensburg,
Germany) and Jerusalem Festival (Palestine). He has performed live on
NPR's "Performance Today" and John Schaffer's "New Sounds."
An active clinician, Mr. Sheronick teaches masterclasses at home in
the US and abroad. Mr. Sheronick holds degrees from Yale University
and the University of Iowa and serves on the faculties of the University
of Bridgeport and Concordia Conservatory. www.yousifsheronick.com
