About Signal
Ensemble Signal is a large NY-based ensemble dedicated to offering the broadest possible audience access to a diverse range of visionary works through performance, commissioning, recording, and educational outreach. Its Artist roster includes some of most gifted and innovative young musicians working in New York. Signal performs under the musical direction of Brad Lubman, who founded the group along with cellist and co artistic director Lauren Radnofsky. Lubman, one of the premier conductors of new music, has worked closely with some of greatest composers of contemporary concert music – among them Berio, Boulez, Reich, Wuorinen, and Lachenmann – and has appeared with some of the world’s most illustrious orchestras and new music ensembles.
To form what The New York Times has described as “one of the most vital groups of its kind,” Lubman and Radnofsky assembled a “new music dream team” (TimeOutNY) of artists who have worked closely with one another and Lubman over the last decade. Members of JACK Quartet, Alarm Will Sound, and other leading New York ensembles perform regularly with the ensemble. Signal is flexible in size and instrumentation, enabling it to meet the demands of its diverse repertoire that ranges from Philip Glass to Helmut Lachenmann.
At home in concert halls, clubs, and international festivals alike, Signal has performed at venues ranging from Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall to (le)Poisson Rouge. Signal made its debut in Spring 2008 at the Bang on a Can Marathon in NYC and the Ojai Music Festival in California, earning praise for “deeply committed performances” (Musical America) of “gripping vehemence” (LA Times). Soon after, Signal gave two sold-out performances of Steve Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians and You Are (Variations) at (le) Poisson Rouge, earning praise from the New York Times for their “vibrant, euphoric performances that seemed to electrify the remarkably youthful audience.” Capacity crowds have greeted Signal’s returns to LPR for performances including Philip Glass’s Suite from ‘The Hours’ and Symphony No. 3, Michael Gordon’s Trance, and Steve Reich’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Double Sextet.
2011-12 season highlights include performances at Tanglewood, playing the music of Brian Ferneyhough; (le) Poisson Rouge, collaborating with Philip Glass Ensemble Music Director Michael Riesman; The Guggenheim Museum, for the NY Premiere of a new cantata by Charles Wuorinen; and on Miller Theatre’s composer portrait series, premiering a new work by Hilda Paredes, written for Signal and Irvine Arditti. Future projects include the commission of a 30 min work for 20 players by Steve Reich.
Signal’s recordings include Philip Glass’ Glassworks and Music in Similar Motion (Glass’ Orange Mountain label); and Sarah Kirkland Snider’s Penelope (New Amsterdam Records). Upcoming releases include a CD/surround-sound DVD of music by Lachenmann, with the composer as soloist in Zwei Gefühle (Mode); Michael Gordon, David Lang, and Julia Wolfe’s Shelter (Cantaloupe); and Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians and pulitzer-prize winning Double Sextet (Cantaloupe).