Dance Division Musician’s Concert
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Event Dates
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What makes us move, imagine, smile, cry, laugh, and remember? Music—which takes the stage when extraordinary Dance Division musicians and composers perform a program of original and improvised works. Known for their collaborations with dancers, these amazing artists create music that is the language we all understand and enjoy. Come celebrate and dance!
Program Information
Repertoire
ROB FLAX: Angry Heel
Rob Flax, violin, with ensemble
QIANCI LIU: Lily, To Mom
Isabella Sun, violin
Aaron Jensen, piano
JOHN WILLIAMS: Theme from Schindler’s List
Isabella Sun, violin
Aaron Jensen, piano
J. S. BACH: Prelude No. 8 in E-flat Minor, BWV 853
Natsumi Malloy, piano
BEN CUBA: Foxhole Grenade
Ben Cuba, bass guitar and electronics
AARON COPLAND (arr. Herman Weiss): Lincoln Portrait
Marsha Johnson, narrator
Herman Weiss, piano
HIDEMI AKAIWA: Free Improvisation
Hidemi Akaiwa, prepared piano
AARON GOLDBERG: Shed
Hidemi Akaiwa, piano
Giuseppe Paradiso, drums
Andy Kim, bass
TETIANA AFANASENKO: Three Haiku
Anna Arazi, piano
RAHT: SAWADEE—A Respectful Homage to My Teachers
Raht, plucked violin and vocals
GIUSEPPE PARADISO: Tony
Giuseppe Paradiso, with ensemble
Rob Flax, violin, with ensemble
QIANCI LIU: Lily, To Mom
Isabella Sun, violin
Aaron Jensen, piano
JOHN WILLIAMS: Theme from Schindler’s List
Isabella Sun, violin
Aaron Jensen, piano
J. S. BACH: Prelude No. 8 in E-flat Minor, BWV 853
Natsumi Malloy, piano
BEN CUBA: Foxhole Grenade
Ben Cuba, bass guitar and electronics
AARON COPLAND (arr. Herman Weiss): Lincoln Portrait
Marsha Johnson, narrator
Herman Weiss, piano
HIDEMI AKAIWA: Free Improvisation
Hidemi Akaiwa, prepared piano
AARON GOLDBERG: Shed
Hidemi Akaiwa, piano
Giuseppe Paradiso, drums
Andy Kim, bass
TETIANA AFANASENKO: Three Haiku
Anna Arazi, piano
RAHT: SAWADEE—A Respectful Homage to My Teachers
Raht, plucked violin and vocals
GIUSEPPE PARADISO: Tony
Giuseppe Paradiso, with ensemble
About the Artists
Anna Arazi, piano, is a Boston-based Russian Israeli classical pianist and educator who enthusiastically advocates for contemporary and rarely performed music by female composers. Arazi has premiered dozens of solo and chamber works by American, British, Israeli, and Ukrainian composers, including Ketty Nez, Tetiana Afanasenko, Adam Berndt, Talia Amar, and Angela Slatter. Her performance credits include the Bell’Arte festival in Belgium, Paine Hall at Harvard University, the Mishkenot Sha’ananim Center in Jerusalem, and Weill Recital Hall in New York City. Arazi’s private piano studio in Acton, Massachusetts is a magnet for neurodivergent students.
Hidemi Akaiwa, piano, is a Japanese pianist and composer. She started on piano at the age of three, but quit all music when she was 17. In her 30s, Akaiwa shifted from a successful corporate career to jazz music. She was awarded a full scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music, where she participated in the Global Jazz Institute, Jazz and Gender Justice Program, and Planet MicroJam Institute. She has had the privilege to study with world-class musicians Danilo Perez, Terri Lyne Carrington, Billy Childs, Kenny Werner, Joe Lovano, and many others. She has performed with Tim Berne, Kris Davis, Anna Webber, Nicole Mitchell, Joe Morris, Ingrid Laubrock, and many others. She is currently a member of the Screaming Headless Torsos and coleads Japanese MicroJam with David Fiuczynski. As an interdisciplinary artist, she has performed at festivals in the US, Italy, Ecuador, China, Switzerland, Germany, Norway, and other countries. Her message to the universe is, “It is never too late to chase dreams that emanate from your soul.”
Ben Cuba, bass guitar and electronics, is a multi-instrumentalist, accompanist, and composer based in the Boston area. He is excited for his second performance in the Boston Conservatory Musicians’ Concert. He works as a dance-class accompanist for Boston Conservatory, Emerson College, and Greater Boston School of Dance. Cuba also plays bass for the band Midnight Motion. He has composed music for dance companies such as The Click, Alive!, and Bodies Moving. His recordings, compositions, and work can be found on Instagram (@ben_cuba) and his website.
Rob Flax, violin, is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist, composer, and educator with a playful heart and an open mind. He has performed nationally and internationally with groups of many different styles, sharing the stage with B.B. King, Tower of Power, Trans Siberian Orchestra, and Jacob Collier, among many others. He is the bandleader of Boom Chick Trio, plays electric violin and synthesizers with art-rock band Billy Wylder, and is the inventor of the Chessboard Drum Machine. As a composer, Flax has written music for choreographers, film (including work on projects for James Franco and Anthony Bourdain), and more. He is a graduate of New England Conservatory, and he currently lives in Boston.
Akili Jamal Haynes, ensemble, is a composer and multi-instrumentalist who began his career at age 15 as a trombonist under the mentorship of Wynton Marsalis. In addition to his extensive performing and recording career on numerous instruments, he has also served as research assistant and arranger for Alvin Ailey Dance Theater under the direction of Judith Jamison. Haynes has served as an accompanist at Berklee College of Music, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Boston University, and Curry College, among others. He was director of woodwinds and brass in the New England Conservatory’s Preparatory and Continuing Education School for over 14 years. Haynes serves as the chair of the Percussion and Popular Music Department at the Community Music Center of Boston. He also creates and performs in his own multi-media work Becoming Chibuzo and Chibuzo Dunun.
Aaron Jensen, piano, oversees accompanist needs for the Boston Conservatory Dance Division, merging his classical training, improvisation skills, diverse genre interests, and appreciation for the symbiosis between music and dance to expertly accompany ballet and modern dance technique classes, including the codified techniques Horton and Graham. Jensen has accompanied company classes for Boston Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and Mark Morris Dance Group, as well as master classes taught by dancers of New York City Ballet, Paul Taylor, Joffrey Ballet, Martha Graham, Boston Ballet, Jose Limón, the Royal Ballet, Lar Lubovitch, Alwin Nikolais, Murray Louis, Paris Opera Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, Twyla Tharp, Ballet Hispánico, Bill T. Jones, San Francisco Ballet, and Alvin Ailey, among others.
Marsha Johnson, narrator, has performed internationally both in opera and recital. Among her programs as part of the DreamSong Duo, she has created a Mozart Lecture-Recital and Songs from the American Songbook. Johnson has performed with Great Woods Opera, Janus Ensemble, Bach Aria Festival, and Aspen Music Festival, among others. She holds a MM in vocal performance (New England Conservatory) and a Masters in Music and Expressive Therapy (Lesley University), and is board certified. She is the director of Middlesex Counseling Services and is music director for the First Baptist Church of Woburn, Massachusetts.
RAHT, violin and vocals, is a multi-instrumentalist and composer who has been working with and composing original music for dancers, dance teachers, and choreographers in Massachusetts since the early 1980’s. He has also worked with Kirov Ballet of Russia, Royal Winnipeg Ballet of Canada, Dance North of Australia and, at times, Alvin Ailey Dance Company and Mark Morris Dance Company in Boston. Some career highlights and accolades include: inaugural winner of the first western style music competition of Thailand, the Siam Music Festival (1971); first Thai participant in the Berklee correspondence course (1976); first prize winner, Australian Yamaha Competition; and first medal winner for Australia in the 11th International Electone Concours. An accomplished scholar, RAHT has also served as a lecturer in economics at Northeastern and Suffolk universities, and as professor of economics and chair of the Seminar Committee at Thammasat University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Natsumi Malloy, piano, is an organist, pianist, and composer. Originally from Japan, she has given numerous concerts including the Organ Concert Series at the Cathedral of St. Paul, King’s Chapel, and Boston’s First Night concert. In the past, she has performed her piano improvisations at United Nations events, the Centennial celebration at Harvard Business School, and more. She was featured in the Japanese television program Gutto Chikyubin. Her music arrangements are published by Yamaha Music Media, Tokyo, Japan, and her original sound tracks from her CD Dear Lilu are available on Apple Music, YouTube, Amazon, Pandora, Spotify, and other internet radio stations around the globe.
Giuseppe Paradiso, drums, is a sought-after performer, recording artist, composer, and bandleader of Meridian 71, a world-jazz project. Starting music at age four, he has over 25 years of professional experience, performing at prestigious venues like the Conservatoire Supérieur de Paris and the Panama and Newport Jazz Festivals. As a leader, he released three acclaimed albums: Otherness Collection, Metropolitan Sketches, and Parallel Dimensions on the UBUNTU MUSIC label. Paradiso has recorded about 30 albums as a sideman, collaborating with notable artists across genres, including Grammy Award winners Javier Limón and Arto Tuncboyaciyan. He holds degrees from the Conservatorio N. Piccinni (Italy) and Berklee College of Music, and has received various honors, including grants from The Boston Foundation and the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture.
Isabella (Sun) Wang, violin, is a dedicated arts professional navigating the intricate world of performing arts administration. Professionally, she is a violinist and dancer, finding immense joy and solace in both disciplines. She served as concertmaster of the Shanghai Youth Orchestra and won the Gold Prize at the Shanghai Spring Music Festival. In September 2024, she made her debut at David Geffen Hall in Lincoln Center. In 2015, she volunteered as a music teacher in Nepal, an experience that inspired her to pursue a career in arts administration. Art has become a personal philosophy, instilling discipline, resilience, and a fresh perspective into her professional journey.
Herman Weiss, piano, is an internationally renowned composer, conductor, organist, and pianist. Dr. Weiss is cofounder of two chamber music societies and created a Master of Music program in composition at the Longy School of Music, where he chaired the department of composition for 12 years. Formerly president and founding member of the Composers in Red Sneakers, he serves as organist and choir director for First Parish Church Congregational (Manchester, Massachusetts), and is a part of the DreamSong Duo with Marsha Johnson.
Hidemi Akaiwa, piano, is a Japanese pianist and composer. She started on piano at the age of three, but quit all music when she was 17. In her 30s, Akaiwa shifted from a successful corporate career to jazz music. She was awarded a full scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music, where she participated in the Global Jazz Institute, Jazz and Gender Justice Program, and Planet MicroJam Institute. She has had the privilege to study with world-class musicians Danilo Perez, Terri Lyne Carrington, Billy Childs, Kenny Werner, Joe Lovano, and many others. She has performed with Tim Berne, Kris Davis, Anna Webber, Nicole Mitchell, Joe Morris, Ingrid Laubrock, and many others. She is currently a member of the Screaming Headless Torsos and coleads Japanese MicroJam with David Fiuczynski. As an interdisciplinary artist, she has performed at festivals in the US, Italy, Ecuador, China, Switzerland, Germany, Norway, and other countries. Her message to the universe is, “It is never too late to chase dreams that emanate from your soul.”
Ben Cuba, bass guitar and electronics, is a multi-instrumentalist, accompanist, and composer based in the Boston area. He is excited for his second performance in the Boston Conservatory Musicians’ Concert. He works as a dance-class accompanist for Boston Conservatory, Emerson College, and Greater Boston School of Dance. Cuba also plays bass for the band Midnight Motion. He has composed music for dance companies such as The Click, Alive!, and Bodies Moving. His recordings, compositions, and work can be found on Instagram (@ben_cuba) and his website.
Rob Flax, violin, is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist, composer, and educator with a playful heart and an open mind. He has performed nationally and internationally with groups of many different styles, sharing the stage with B.B. King, Tower of Power, Trans Siberian Orchestra, and Jacob Collier, among many others. He is the bandleader of Boom Chick Trio, plays electric violin and synthesizers with art-rock band Billy Wylder, and is the inventor of the Chessboard Drum Machine. As a composer, Flax has written music for choreographers, film (including work on projects for James Franco and Anthony Bourdain), and more. He is a graduate of New England Conservatory, and he currently lives in Boston.
Akili Jamal Haynes, ensemble, is a composer and multi-instrumentalist who began his career at age 15 as a trombonist under the mentorship of Wynton Marsalis. In addition to his extensive performing and recording career on numerous instruments, he has also served as research assistant and arranger for Alvin Ailey Dance Theater under the direction of Judith Jamison. Haynes has served as an accompanist at Berklee College of Music, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Boston University, and Curry College, among others. He was director of woodwinds and brass in the New England Conservatory’s Preparatory and Continuing Education School for over 14 years. Haynes serves as the chair of the Percussion and Popular Music Department at the Community Music Center of Boston. He also creates and performs in his own multi-media work Becoming Chibuzo and Chibuzo Dunun.
Aaron Jensen, piano, oversees accompanist needs for the Boston Conservatory Dance Division, merging his classical training, improvisation skills, diverse genre interests, and appreciation for the symbiosis between music and dance to expertly accompany ballet and modern dance technique classes, including the codified techniques Horton and Graham. Jensen has accompanied company classes for Boston Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and Mark Morris Dance Group, as well as master classes taught by dancers of New York City Ballet, Paul Taylor, Joffrey Ballet, Martha Graham, Boston Ballet, Jose Limón, the Royal Ballet, Lar Lubovitch, Alwin Nikolais, Murray Louis, Paris Opera Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, Twyla Tharp, Ballet Hispánico, Bill T. Jones, San Francisco Ballet, and Alvin Ailey, among others.
Marsha Johnson, narrator, has performed internationally both in opera and recital. Among her programs as part of the DreamSong Duo, she has created a Mozart Lecture-Recital and Songs from the American Songbook. Johnson has performed with Great Woods Opera, Janus Ensemble, Bach Aria Festival, and Aspen Music Festival, among others. She holds a MM in vocal performance (New England Conservatory) and a Masters in Music and Expressive Therapy (Lesley University), and is board certified. She is the director of Middlesex Counseling Services and is music director for the First Baptist Church of Woburn, Massachusetts.
RAHT, violin and vocals, is a multi-instrumentalist and composer who has been working with and composing original music for dancers, dance teachers, and choreographers in Massachusetts since the early 1980’s. He has also worked with Kirov Ballet of Russia, Royal Winnipeg Ballet of Canada, Dance North of Australia and, at times, Alvin Ailey Dance Company and Mark Morris Dance Company in Boston. Some career highlights and accolades include: inaugural winner of the first western style music competition of Thailand, the Siam Music Festival (1971); first Thai participant in the Berklee correspondence course (1976); first prize winner, Australian Yamaha Competition; and first medal winner for Australia in the 11th International Electone Concours. An accomplished scholar, RAHT has also served as a lecturer in economics at Northeastern and Suffolk universities, and as professor of economics and chair of the Seminar Committee at Thammasat University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Natsumi Malloy, piano, is an organist, pianist, and composer. Originally from Japan, she has given numerous concerts including the Organ Concert Series at the Cathedral of St. Paul, King’s Chapel, and Boston’s First Night concert. In the past, she has performed her piano improvisations at United Nations events, the Centennial celebration at Harvard Business School, and more. She was featured in the Japanese television program Gutto Chikyubin. Her music arrangements are published by Yamaha Music Media, Tokyo, Japan, and her original sound tracks from her CD Dear Lilu are available on Apple Music, YouTube, Amazon, Pandora, Spotify, and other internet radio stations around the globe.
Giuseppe Paradiso, drums, is a sought-after performer, recording artist, composer, and bandleader of Meridian 71, a world-jazz project. Starting music at age four, he has over 25 years of professional experience, performing at prestigious venues like the Conservatoire Supérieur de Paris and the Panama and Newport Jazz Festivals. As a leader, he released three acclaimed albums: Otherness Collection, Metropolitan Sketches, and Parallel Dimensions on the UBUNTU MUSIC label. Paradiso has recorded about 30 albums as a sideman, collaborating with notable artists across genres, including Grammy Award winners Javier Limón and Arto Tuncboyaciyan. He holds degrees from the Conservatorio N. Piccinni (Italy) and Berklee College of Music, and has received various honors, including grants from The Boston Foundation and the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture.
Isabella (Sun) Wang, violin, is a dedicated arts professional navigating the intricate world of performing arts administration. Professionally, she is a violinist and dancer, finding immense joy and solace in both disciplines. She served as concertmaster of the Shanghai Youth Orchestra and won the Gold Prize at the Shanghai Spring Music Festival. In September 2024, she made her debut at David Geffen Hall in Lincoln Center. In 2015, she volunteered as a music teacher in Nepal, an experience that inspired her to pursue a career in arts administration. Art has become a personal philosophy, instilling discipline, resilience, and a fresh perspective into her professional journey.
Herman Weiss, piano, is an internationally renowned composer, conductor, organist, and pianist. Dr. Weiss is cofounder of two chamber music societies and created a Master of Music program in composition at the Longy School of Music, where he chaired the department of composition for 12 years. Formerly president and founding member of the Composers in Red Sneakers, he serves as organist and choir director for First Parish Church Congregational (Manchester, Massachusetts), and is a part of the DreamSong Duo with Marsha Johnson.
Concert Services Staff
Assistant Director, Concert Services – Luis Herrera
Coordinator, Concert Services – Matthew Carey
Concert Production Manager – Kendall Floyd
Performance Technology Technicians – Sara Pagiaro, Goran Daskalov
Performance Technology Specialist – Andrei Radu
Coordinator, Concert Services – Matthew Carey
Concert Production Manager – Kendall Floyd
Performance Technology Technicians – Sara Pagiaro, Goran Daskalov
Performance Technology Specialist – Andrei Radu
Special Thanks
Special thanks to Diane Arvanites for the concert flyer, to Aaron Jensen and Isabella Sun for their administrative support, and to Tommy Neblett and the Dance Division for their continued support of live music for dance!
Boston Conservatory thanks audience members for viewing this program information online. This paperless program saved 200 sheets of paper, 21 gallons of water, and 18 pounds of CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions.
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