Elskavon, Philip Daniel, and Jacob Pavek will perform a modern classical showcase using Berlin’s Steinway baby grand piano and various electronics. Pavek will open with solo piano, then perform from BLOMMA with Philip Daniel, who will then take a turn on solo piano. Following a set break, Elskavon will perform, first solo and then with Philip Daniel.

Elskavon is the electronic-ambient moniker of Minnesota-based musician Chris Bartels, whose sonic palette has ranged from spacious and unique drones, to sample-heavy eclectic electronic pop, to cinematic and post-rock characteristics. Intermixing studio accidents and real-life field recordings with analog synthesizers, cassette tape, and vintage reel-to-reel machines, Elskavon’s latest album, Origins, blends spacious electronics in the realm of Tycho, Jon Hopkins, and Tourist, with songcraft akin to Bon Iver and Ólafur Arnalds. Garnering acclaim from outlets such as HypeM and Bandcamp’s editorial teams, who describe Origins as “full of kaleidoscopic soundscapes that are joyfully danceable and optimistic,” the album marks the start of a new era for Elskavon, one that sees itself breaking out of any and all creative walls or genre boxes.

Philip Daniel is a distinguished pianist and composer from Lincoln, NE. His main vehicle is the piano merged with electronics, and his unique musical voice marries classical elements, minimalist soundscapes, and cinematic qualities. In addition to his solo projects, he has established a successful full-time career in film composing. His evocative scores have been featured in numerous films and his music has been listened to over 30 million times. He holds a graduate degree in piano performance from the UMKC Conservatory and an undergraduate degree in piano performance and piano pedagogy from Hastings College.

Following the global success of recent catalogue works NOME and Illume, and having fulfilled career milestones such as opening for Jóhann Jóhannsson in 2016 and composing the Emmy-nominated soundtrack to the documentary Hello Montevideo, Jacob Pavek released his senior effort, NINA. NINA is the cumulation of four years of life's harmony and strife, captured on piano at Midwestern Records in Pavek’s hometown of Saint Paul, MN. Inspired by the ever-changing seasons of life, the intimate dampened piano is often accompanied by expressive strings and ethereal voices to create a unique world to live in, if only for a mere 29 minutes.