$15 at the door 7:30pm Show
Ernest Bisong, David Feily, and Greg Byers have spent years honing their musicianship in separate spheres of the Minnesota music scene and have recently come together to form this unique musical partnership. Minneapolis String Project deviates from the standard repertoire for bowed stringed instruments and draws from jazz, fusion, soul, and an array of world music influences. Their live performances leave audiences dazzled by the group’s cooperative improvisation and creativity.
Ernest Bisong was introduced to the violin at the age of nine in his home country of Nigeria. He has since studied with several notable tutors and performers from around the world, including Rachel Barton-Pine (American violinist), Sir Godfrey Amoah (Ghanaian violinist), Louis Jones (British violinist), Agnes Nagy (Hungarian cellist), and Thomas Kanitz (cellist of the Reger String Quartet and Dortmund Symphony Orchestra). After studying mainstream classical music, Ernest found an appreciation for more contemporary musical styles and thus began an exploration of the jazz genre. In 2011, he performed at the African Leadership Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with the illustrious Bez. In 2012, he was on the Nigerian contingent to perform at the African Showcase of South by Southwest in Austin, TX. In 2013, Ernest became the first Nigerian to obtain performance diploma certification from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music in London with a distinction. In the maiden edition of Venture Career Journal Nigeria released that same year, he was referred to as “arguably Africa’s foremost contemporary violinist.” He has opened for such acts as Richard Bona, Mike Stern, Marcus Johnson, Marsha Ambrosius, and Anita Baker.
In his lifelong pursuit of music, Greg Byers has overcome countless obstacles in order to become an idiosyncratic performer, composer, educator, and producer. Greg started playing cello at the Family Suzuki School in Rochester, NY, at age 2.5. By age 16, he was a talented cellist but was frustrated with the lack of personal expression he found in youth orchestras. This led Greg to explore the possibilities of the cello in a jazz context. At the University of Miami, he became the first person to double major in instrumental performance/studio music and jazz on cello and bass, summa cum laude. After participating in the Miami and Los Angeles music scenes, Greg released his debut EP, Some Dark, Beautiful Morning, and decided to continue his higher learning at McNally Smith College of Music in Saint Paul, where he earned a Master of Music Performance degree. Now a resident of the historic A-Mill Artist Lofts of Minneapolis, Greg maintains a busy schedule, juggling original and freelance performances, a private cello/bass studio, and recording and production services. His recent career highlights include performing with Terence Blanchard & the Turtle Island Quartet, becoming a faculty member at Carleton College, and receiving the 2022 Creative Support for Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board.
David Feily moved to the Twin Cities from Maryland and has firmly planted himself in the music scene as a multi-instrumentalist, composer, musical director, educator, and collaborator. In addition to his contributions to the Minneapolis String Project, you can find him in various ensembles such as BZ3 Organ Trio and L.A. Buckner’s BiG HOMiE Band. He also performs for artists including Steve Cole, Kevin Washington, Esera Tuaolo, Lucia Sarmiento, and Rhythm Street Movement.
