Catchfire Collective presents innovative, powerful, and inspiring performances that reignite the chamber music experience. Based in Greensboro, North Carolina, Catchfire was founded by six graduates of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in May 2019. Equally at home as a sextet, in smaller formations, and as soloists, Catchfire’s members represent a dynamic background of artistic approaches and experiences, united in their common goal of offering unique performances that capture the ethos of twenty-first century art music.

Catchfire’s innovative programming has been met with audience and critical acclaim. In their December 2021 program, City of Industry, The Music of Annie Gosfield, they were met with critical acclaim: "their ability to blend into total transparency, reemerge, and then create a vivid array of colors was almost unbelievable." Their December 2020 program Falling Up: The World Upside Down was praised as “magical” and “artistically stitched together,” featuring “relentless pulse, contrasting textures, and beautiful individual playing.” Other past projects include Dance on the Edge, a high energy balancing act featuring the music of Graham Fitkin, Roshanne Etezady, and Marc Mellits, and Dreamscapes, an immersive performance of the music of George Crumb. Other performances have featured the music of Charles Peck, inti figgis-vizueta, Jonathan Bailey Holland, Julius Eastman, Carl Schimmel, Fjóla Evans, Zhou Tian, Anna Clyne, Annie Gosfield and numerous others, including Catchfire’s own Peter Swanson and Isaac Pyatt. Catchfire has also previously commissioned pieces by Lihuen Sirvent, Stephen Ryan Jackson, Grace Gollmar, and Shar Joyner.

Since their formation, Catchfire has become a prominent part of Greensboro’s arts scene. They have presented performances throughout the city and the Piedmont Triad region and are a regular fixture at the city’s local music venues, churches, and bars. During the 2020-21 season, Catchfire formed a partnership with Flux Creative Studio to continue presenting performances in a virtual, interactive format, attracting attendees from all across the country. In 2019, Catchfire was the featured ensemble at the 2nd Annual Darkwater Women in Music Festival at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Catchfire has also been featured as a guest artist at Virginia Tech, Towson University, the University or North Carolina Greensboro, Grand Valley State University, High Point University, and the Steinway Piano Gallery - Greensboro.

Catchfire’s 2024-25 season will see even more innovative performances come to Greensboro and surrounding areas. Upcoming projects include a premiere of a commissioned new work by Hilary Purrington as well as a residency at the University of North Carolina Pembroke.

There are more ways than ever to join Catchfire in reigniting the Chamber Music Experience and we can’t wait for you to join us!

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