About c)i
In more than twenty-five years of virtuosic performances and daring programming, the composer/performer collective counter)induction has established itself as a force of excellence in contemporary music. Hailed by The New York Times for its "fiery ensemble virtuosity" and by The Washington Post for its "first-rate performances," c)i has given critically acclaimed performances at major venues including Miller Theatre, Merkin Concert Hall, and the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society. The ensemble has premiered numerous works and appeared on many recordings, most recently on the 2020 New Focus Recordings release Against Method. In a review of the album, Jeremy Shatan of AnEarful wrote that "there is no hype in calling this ensemble a supergroup," praising the release by noting, "The performances are all excellent, the sound is warm yet crisp, and the whole album satisfies far beyond its commemorative purpose." counter)induction is the winner of an ASCAP/Chamber Music America Award for Adventurous Programming and the recipient of both the Aaron Copland Fund for Music Recording Grant and Chamber Music America's Classical Commissioning Grant. The group has also headlined numerous festivals, including Music on the Edge in Pittsburgh, Music at the Anthology Festival in New York, and the Corcoran Music Festival in Washington, DC. Week.
Since emerging in 1998 from a series of collaborations between composers at the University of Pennsylvania and performers at the Juilliard School, counter)induction has premiered works by many established and emerging American composers, including Eric Moe, Suzanne Sorkin, Ursula Mamlok, and Lee Hyla. c)i has also widely championed the music of international composers, including Jukka Tiensuu, Bernhard Gander, Gilbert Amy, Dai Fujikura, and Vinko Globokar.
Following the release of Against Method, counter)induction has continued to expand its reach through dynamic concerts and academic residencies. Recent highlights include immersive, site-specific experiences like the 2026 "Ephemeral Circuits" concert at the Williamsburg Biannual. The ensemble also regularly engages in robust university residencies — such as their repeated visits to The George Washington University for performances at The Textile Museum and Hammer Auditorium, or their upcoming visit to UNC Chapel Hill. Pushing beyond standard community engagement, c)i interweaves performance with lectures and symposiums to explore the intricate relationships between musical heritage and invention with creators and audiences alike.
Since its inception, c)i's mission has been straightforward: world-class performances of contemporary chamber music, without hype and without agenda other than a complete commitment to the most compelling music of our day.
counter)induction is: Benjamin Fingland, clarinet; Daniel Lippel, guitar; Jessica Meyer, viola & composer; Caleb van der Swaagh, cello; Ning Yu, piano; and composers Kyle Bartlett, Douglas Boyce, and Ryan Streber.
