Second Instrumental Unit

Residing in New York City, the Second Instrumental Unit is currently in the midst of their fifth season. Throughout past seasons, the Unit has been featured both as Resident-ensemble, and as Guest-artists at Queens College, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Ball State University, Bates College, University of Western Michigan, University of California San Diego, Juilliard, the New England Conservatory, and the Boston Conservatory. The Unit has developed a very special relationship with Queens College (Aaron Copland School of Music), where they have just completed their fourth season as ensemble-in-residence for the composition department, astonishingly commissioning and premiering nearly 100 new works by student composers. The Unit has also had an annual engagement at the Monadnock Music Festival. In the late summer of 2007, the Unit was invited to lecture, present, and perform in Porto Alegra, Brazil at the Universidad. As a result of the tour to Brazil, the Arts Council and Minister of Education of Brazil issued a special citation to David Fulmer and Eliot Gattegno (co-directors) for their outstanding artistic excellence. The Unit made its Carnegie Hall debut at Weill Recital Hall in the spring of 2006 in a 90th birthday celebration concert in tribute of American composer Milton Babbitt. In addition to the Aaron Copland School of Music, the Unit will also be the ensemble in residence at the Boston Conservatory throughout their fifth season. The American Composers Alliance (ACA) has also supported the ensemble, choosing to showcase the Second Instrumental Unit at their annual festival for the past two years. It brings us great pleasure to be making our third appearance at the 2009 festival.