Event Description

At a time when the environment is more threatened than ever with pollution and our life-giving waterways at risk, Fifth House Ensemble traces the life cycle of water from its metaphorical descent from the heavens as rain, to its long journey in streams and rivers informed by conservation experts and ecologists. Featuring works by John Luther Adams, Mason Bates, and Shawn Okpebholo, alongside music inspired by First Peoples, this Ear Taxi Spotlight Concert program asks what it would mean to return to a sacred conception in which humans are a part of nature rather than beings standing outside of its impact.

Praised by the New York Times for its “conviction, authority, and finesse,” the Chicago-based Fifth House Ensemble harnesses the collaborative spirit of chamber music to reach beyond the traditionally-perceived limits of classical music. The ensemble’s artistic, educational, and civic programs engage theater groups, video game designers, corporate innovators, and folk bands to share stories as diverse as the communities it serves. The ensemble has released two critically acclaimed albums on Cedille Records, and has produced fully interactive music and gaming experiences including Journey LIVE and Undertale LIVE.