Join us for an evening of groundbreaking percussion music as Sandbox Percussion takes the stage to present world premieres by composers Iseul Kim and Wenbin Lyu. 

These works are the culmination of Kim and Lyu's participation in Sandbox Percussion's Creator Mentorship Program, made possible by the generous support of The Elizabeth Noble Fund, The New York State Council on the Arts, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

This concert marks the start of the Sandbox Percussion Summer Seminar, where participants learn, rehearse, and perform alongside Sandbox Percussion through daily rehearsals, coachings, and workshops. We hope you'll also join us on Tuesday, June 18 for a special concert performed by seminar participants alongside Sandbox Percussion. 

About Sandbox Percussion

Described as “exhilarating” (The New York Times) and “utterly mesmerizing” (The Guardian), GRAMMY®-nominated ensemble Sandbox Percussion is dedicated to artistry in contemporary chamber music. The ensemble was brought together in 2011 by a love of chamber music and the simple joy of playing together; today, Sandbox Percussion captivates worldwide audiences with visually and aurally stunning performances.

Sandbox Percussion’s 2021 album Seven Pillars was nominated for two GRAMMY® awards — Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance and Best Contemporary Classical Composition. The ensemble performed the piece more than 15 times throughout the United States and Europe last season, including at the Théâtre du Châtelet, in Paris.

In the 2023-24 season, Sandbox Percussion performs Seven Pillars at the VIVO Music Festival (Columbus, OH); the New School (New York); Aperio, Music of the Americas (Houston); the Frost School of Music (Miami); Brown University (Providence, RI); and the Peace Center (Greenville, SC), among other venues.

This season, Sandbox Percussion also releases their fourth album, Wilderness, featuring the piece of the same name by experimental composer Jerome Begin. Other season highlights include two performances at the Park Avenue Armory (New York), featuring premieres by Chris Cerrone and Viet Cuong; a performance at the 92nd Street Y with pianist and new-music champion Conor Hanick featuring the New York premiere of two works composed for them by Christopher Cerrone and by Tyshawn Sorey; and an appearance at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Sandbox Percussion will also continue to champion Viet Cuong’s acclaimed concerto for percussion quartet, Re(new)al, including performances with the Des Moines Symphony and with the Albany Symphony, which commissioned the piece.

Besides maintaining an international performance schedule, Sandbox Percussion holds the position of ensemble-in-residence and percussion faculty at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and The New School’s College of Performing Arts. In 2016, Sandbox Percussion founded the Sandbox Percussion Seminar, introducing percussion students to the leading percussion chamber music of the day.

Sandbox Percussion endorses Pearl/Adams musical instruments, Zildjian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks and mallets, Remo drumheads, and Black Swamp accessories.

About Iseul Kim

Composer, pianist, singer and world traveler Iseul Kim is based in NYC and Seoul, graduated from University of Illinois Urbana Champaign with Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies, and is currently pursuing a master’s at The New School.

Iseul Kim reveals her life stories and cultures through music that has no limits. Having traveled the world and experienced numerous cultures, she has been influenced by different musical styles her entire adult life. Thus, she eventually formed different groups and released multiple albums with her band Liberosis, Iseul Kim Trio and lastly her 9 piece ensemble with Korean traditional music influence ‘ Two Voices’.

About Wenbin Lyu

Wenbin Lyu is a Chinese composer and guitarist based in Cincinnati. His work draws inspiration from nature, science, and video games, and always blends contemporary Western techniques with ancient Oriental culture.

His works have been featured at numerous events, including the Cabrillo, Tanglewood, RED NOTE, NMG, NYCEMF, EMM, IRCAM, SPLICE, SEAMUS, and ICMC. He has worked with acclaimed ensembles such as the Buffalo Philharmonic, Albany Symphony, Beijing Symphony, Fifth House Ensemble, Eighth Blackbird, Akropolis Quintet, Del Sol Quartet, Icarus Quartet, Society for New Music, Capitol Quartet, Transient Canvas, and Hypercube. Lyu is the recipient of one ASCAP Young Composer Award and three The American Prize awards.

Lyu holds degrees from the China Conservatory, NEC, and CCM.