FREE Courtroom Concert: Purple Orange – Michelle Kinney & Jacqueline Ultan, cellos; Greg Schutte, percussion

Purple Orange:
Michelle Kinney, cello
Jacqueline Ultan, cello
Greg Schutte, percussion

Purple Orange features Jacqueline and Michelle who have worked together as co-composers and performers for over 20 years, in various music ensembles, also in theater (Kevin Kling & Michael Sommers, Theater Latte Da) and dance projects (Black Label Movement, and many others). Greg Schutte has been a long-time collaborator, and continuing partner in countless projects with Jacqueline and Michelle.

Michelle Kinney returned home to Minneapolis after receiving a BA in music from Northwestern University. During this early phase in her career she collaborated with Twin Cities choreographers, filmmakers and theater artists in addition to leading her own new music ensembles (IMP ORK). In 1989, she moved to New York City to pursue an MA in Performance Studies at New York University. Michelle lived in NYC for 13 years, performing, recording and touring Europe and the US; bridging musical genres and scenes, from art music (Henry Threadgill, Butch Morris, Myra Melford) to pop (Sheryl Crow, Natalie Merchant, Lou Reed). Michelle returned to the Twin Cities in 2002 to raise her young family, again becoming very actively engaged as an artist in her hometown community. Her work has been funded by the MN State Arts Board, Jerome Foundation, McKnight Foundation, Next Step and MRAC. Current projects include the band Tamarack Stylites, Maithree, w/Nirmala Rajasekar, and many collaborations with dance (Laurie Van Wieren, BRKFST, Ananya Dance Theater, Body Watani).

Jacqueline Ultan is a singularly creative cellist, composer & improvisor who’s unique versatility is reflected in her many current artistic collaborations that include: Duo CORDA; The Laurels String Quartet; Chris Lynch’s Dust Of Suns Ensemble; Barbara Cohen and Little Lizard; The Starfolk; The Shabby Road Orchestra; Vertighost and Hover. Jacqueline has recorded and collaborated extensively with theater, dance, pop, rock and new music artists including: Dan Wilson, Semisonic, Chastity Brown, Ondara, Soul Asylum, Prof, Annie Humphrey, Kill The Vultures, Roma di Luna, The Jayhawks, and many others. Jacqueline has received a McKnight Performing Artist Fellowship; MacPhail Artist & Commissioning Grants; MRAC’s Next Step Grant and a State Arts Board Arts Tour MN grant. As a composer, Ultan co-wrote music and performed in TED Talks! conferences in Minneapolis and L.A. and co-wrote an original duo cello score for a production at Theater Latte Da. Jacqueline is also honored to have been a six-time artist in residence at Tofte Lake Center in Ely, MN. Also a dedicated teacher on the faculty at the MacPhail Center for Music, Jacqueline holds a Masters Degree in Performance from Yale University.

Greg Schutte is a composer, drummer, producer and sound designer. As a touring drummer, Schutte has toured and performed with Ryan Bingham, Mickey Hart Band, Chastity Brown, Stephen Stills, Gloria Gaynor and more. He performed on B.B. King’s 2002 U.S. “Summer Blues Fest” with The Shane Henry ;Cyndi Lauper’s 2006 “Body Acoustic World Tour” with Minneapolis Reggae Pop group The RULE. Schutte toured Iraq and Kuwait in 2010, performing for the U.S./Coalition Forces with singer/songwriter Keri Noble. He owns, operates and produces records at Boom Island Recording in Minneapolis