Kinetic Ensemble

Hailed for its “agile virtuosity and vibrant sound” and “visually arresting… brilliantly executed” performances (Arts and Culture Texas), the artist-led, artist-curated Kinetic Ensemble visits MIT to celebrate creative collaboration and new beginnings, and to explore music inspired by human invention, cultural heritage, and the natural world. Founded and directed by Natalie Lin Douglas (Associate Professor of Music at MIT), Kinetic premieres two new works by MIT faculty members Miguel Zenón (GRAMMY® Award winner; Guggenheim and MacArthur Fellow) and Evan Ziporyn (Kenan Sahin Distinguished Professor; Director of the Center for Art, Science & Technology), and presents the Boston premiere of The Wilderness Anthology for string orchestra and soundscapes by guest composer Patrick Harlin, whose interdisciplinary work combines the fields of musical composition and soundscape ecology.

Kinetic’s residency includes an interactive open rehearsal demonstration illustrating the ensemble’s intensely collaborative approach to music-making, masterclasses for MIT’s student musicians, and a public concert in the newly completed Performance Lab featuring the works of Zenón, Ziporyn, and Harlin. Additionally, guest composer Patrick Harlin gives a presentation on his research into soundscape ecology and how that has shaped his creative output.

The residency is part of the MIT Arts Festival and the new music building’s opening celebrations.

Upcoming Events

Emerson/Harris Masterclass: Charles Paul, bass
Wednesday, February 19, 2025 / 5:00PM
MIT Killian Hall (14W-111)
160 Memorial Dr, Cambridge, MA

Wild Surroundings: Kinetic in Concert
Saturday, February 22, 2025 / 7:30pm
Thomas Tull Concert Hall (W18-1102), Edward and Joyce Linde Music Building (W18)
21 Amherst Street, Cambridge, MA

Led by Associate Professor of music at MIT Natalie Lin Douglas, the dynamic, 16-piece Kinetic Ensemble makes its northeast debut, performing new music inspired by human invention, cultural heritage, and the natural world. The concert features the world premieres of works by faculty members Evan Ziporyn and Miguel Zenón, and the Boston premiere of The Wilderness Anthology (2016/2022) for string orchestra and soundscapes by guest composer, Patrick Harlin.

Registration coming soon

New Zealand-born violinist, educator, and arts entrepreneur Dr. Natalie Lin Douglas is the founder and artistic director of Kinetic Ensemble, the Houston-based conductorless ensemble. Committed to amplifying diverse, under-represented, and newly composed classical music through flexible chamber and orchestral ensemble performances, Kinetic has been coined “Houston’s indie, conductorless orchestra” (Houston Public Media) and praised for its “visually arresting… brilliantly executed” performances (Arts+Culture Texas). Under her leadership, Natalie has commissioned and premiered numerous works by composers of our time, including Karim Al-Zand, Daniel Temkin, Giancarlo Latta, Alexandra T. Bryant, and Daniel J. Knaggs.

Biography: MIT Music and Theater Arts
Website: natvln.com

Patrick Harlin’s “aesthetics capture a sense of tradition and innovation…” (The New York Times). His music is permeated by classical, jazz, and electronic music traditions, all underpinned with a love and respect for the great outdoors. His works have been performed by the St. Louis Symphony, the Kansas City Symphony, the Kinetic Ensemble, the Rochester and Calgary Philharmonic Orchestras, Collegium Cincinnati, and Calidore String Quartet, among others. Harlin is the inaugural composer in residence with the Lansing Symphony Orchestra (2019–2023). His interdisciplinary research in soundscape ecology—a field that aims to better understand ecosystems through sound—has taken him to imperiled regions around the world, including the Amazon rainforest and the Book Cliffs of Utah. His baseline recordings for ecological impact studies are also the fodder for artistic inspiration. This work has been supported by a Graham Sustainability Institute Doctoral Fellowship, a Theodore Presser Award, and private support, among others. These pieces draw parallels between the sounds of the natural world and those of the concert hall, seeking to bring awareness to the importance of sound in our environment. Harlin grew up in Seattle, holds a doctorate in music composition from the University of Michigan, and currently resides in Ann Arbor. 

Website: patrickharlin.com
Socials: Instagram | Sound Cloud | X

Dubbed “Houston’s indie, conductorless orchestra” (Houston Public Media) and “Best Chamber Orchestra of 2023” (Houston Press), the artist-led, artist-curated Kinetic Ensemble has gained increasing recognition as an innovative and dynamic force in Houston’s music scene, and an important advocate for the diversification of classical music repertoire. Formed in 2015, the 16-member, conductorless string ensemble has been hailed for its “remarkably varied and rich strata of string colour” (Choir & Organ), its “visually arresting… brilliantly executed” performances (Arts and +Culture Texas), and its “thoughtful, incisive programming” (Arts and Culture Texas). With a commitment to amplifying diverse, under-performed, and newly composed classical music, Kinetic has premiered over 20 new works by emerging and established composers of our time, including Karim Al-Zand, Patrick Harlin, Daniel Knaggs, Paul Novak, Nicky Sohn, Daniel Temkin, and more. Kinetic’s self-titled album, featuring four premiere recordings, was released in 2023 and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Traditional Classical charts.

Website: kineticensemble.org 
Social: Facebook | Youtube | Spotify | Instagram

“…remarkably varied and rich strata of string colour from Kinetic”

–Choir & Organ (Gramophone UK), Spring 2024

“Houston’s Indie, Conductorless Orchestra” and “A kind of ‘indie rock band’ in classical music”

–Houston Public Media (Radio), January 2020

“…agile virtuosity and vibrant sound” and “…thoughtful and impactful programming”

–Arts and Culture Texas, September 2022

“Once again, Kinetic demonstrated it can handle anything from the Romantic to the modern to the futuristic”

–Paper City Magazine, June 2023