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. 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 included 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, Mark Carlson, and Catchfire’s own Robin McLaughlin. Catchfire has also previously commissioned pieces by 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 bars, churches, and music stages. 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, Grand Valley State University, and High Point University.  

 

Catchfire’s 2021-22 season will see even more innovative performances come to Greensboro, North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad and Research Triangle, and throughout the United States. Upcoming projects include a commission for a new work by Hilary Purrington; i am a shadow...the true self, featuring a choreographed performance of Eleanor Alberga’s Dancing With the Shadow; Three Scenes from the American Southeast by Nick Rich, a folk/classical collaboration with the Winterbirds; and Hop, Skip, and Jump featuring music by Nicholas E. Hall, Robert Honstein, and new works by Catchfire’s cellist Peter Swanson and percussionist Isaac Pyatt. 

 

There are more ways than ever to join Catchfire in reigniting the Chamber Music Experience. Whether six feet apart or tuned in to Twitch, we can’t wait for you to join us! 

 

Interested in reigniting the chamber music experience? Give us a like on Facebook, follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and subscribe to us on YouTube. For more information on all things Catchfire, sign up for our mailing list or contact us at catchfirecollective@gmail.com.