About Eight Strings & a Whistle

Since forming in 1998, Eight Strings & a Whistle has established itself as an innovative and exciting ensemble, with each of us drawing on our individual artistry to create our collective voice.

Committed to expanding the repertoire for our unique combination, we have been captivating audiences nationwide, performing rare treasures of the Baroque, Classical and 20th and 21st century –– all originally composed for flute, viola and cello!

We collaborate regularly with composers from all over the world and pride ourselves on the success of our diverse programming.

Building on its advocacy for new music, Eight Strings & a Whistle launched its first Composer Competition in 2017. Held every two years, the Competition welcomes composers of all ages enrolled in an accredited degree program at the time of application. The First Prize is the New York Premiere of the winning composer’s work on our annual Fall concert. For more information please visit our 8SW Composer Competition page.

Since winning the Artists International Special Presentation Award and giving our critically acclaimed New York debut at Merkin Concert Hall in May, 2003, our appearances have included annual performances at the Tenri Cultural Institute in New York City, the Festival de Musica Contemporánea in Havana, Cuba, the Festival of New American Music in Sacramento, California, the Spectri Sonori series at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, and the Stern Virtuoso Series at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York, as well as numerous concerts throughout the United States.

Eight Strings & a Whistle's can be heard on  ...and nothing remains the same... our most recent recording released by Ravello Records. Other recordings released by Ravello Records are our debut album, Albert’s Window, 96 Strings and 2 Whistles, a recording of the music of Scott Brickman, and Chamber Symphonies 2, 3 & 4, a recording of the music of Douglas Anderson. We can also be heard on TULPE, a recording of music by Sarah Davol and GRAMMY-nominated artist Dawn Avery, released on Okenti Records in January, 2008. Please visit Recordings for more information.

We also love to perform outreach programs, give workshops and talk about what we do as much as we love playing concerts! Discussing the pieces we are performing from the stage in an audience-friendly manner provides “live program notes” which put older works in historic context and give insight into the contemporary works and premieres. We can engage our audiences and provide them with an enriched experience. Be sure to check out our interview on CAPRADIO and our Video Room to get a sense of that we are like "live." Eight Strings & a Whistle welcomes the opportunity to perform for your community, school, or concert series. For more information please visit 8SW & You.