Created by New York City and Boston based soprano Corrine Byrne and trumpeter Andy Kozar, the Byrne:Kozar:Duo presents historically informed performances of Baroque music for natural trumpet and soprano in addition to commissioning new works for modern trumpet and soprano. They have been said to create ‘an arresting symbiosis in their melding of voice and trumpet timbres’ (Textura) and that the ‘trumpet and voice seem to take on one another’s qualities’ (Bandcamp Daily).
As individuals, Corrine has been called a ‘celebrated singer’ (Broadway World) and ‘a rising star’ (Arts Westchester) while Andy has been called a ‘star soloist’ (TimeOutNY) and ‘polished and dynamic, with very impressive playing’ (Baltimore Sun). Combining their strengths as performers and interpreters of both early and modern music, the Byrne:Kozar:Duo has commissioned new works by composers including Reiko Futing, Paula Matthusen, David Smooke, Scott Worthington and Scott Wollschleger. As recording artists, they can be heard on a recent release of the music of Scott Wollshleger on New Focus Recordings which was named a Notable Recording of 2017 in The New Yorker.
Recent appearances include performances at the Time:Spans Festival, Boston Early Music Festival, Lake George Music Festival, Divergent Studio at the Longy School of Music, NienteForte in New Orleans, and New Music Miami. They have also been heard on American Public Media’s Performance Today as well as on National Public Radio.
This concert is sponsored by the School of Performing Arts, the Cultural Affairs and Distinguished Lecture Series Fund, and the Empower Mentor Program.