Since forming in 2015, the Houston-based conduc- torless ensemble KINETIC has been gaining in- creasing momentum as an innovative and dynamic force in the classical music scene, and an important advocate for rarely-performed music in the clas- sical repertoire. The ensemble has been described as “Houston’s Indie, Conductorless Orchestra” that has “found its niche in Houston’s music scene” (Houston Public Media), and has been praised for its “thoughtful incisive programming” and “visu- ally arresting… brilliantly executed” performances (Arts+Culture TX). Consisting of 16 young profes- sional string players, Kinetic is committed to ampli- fying diverse, under-represented, and newly com- posed classical music to communities in and beyond Houston, through flexible chamber and orchestral ensemble performances.

With collaboration at its core, the ensemble has partnered with numerous artistic organizations and institutions, including Moody Center for the Arts, Musiqa, Windsync, NobleMotion Dance, Houston Contemporary Dance Company, Archway Gallery, Hoppa Project, Sam Houston State University’s School of Music, Houston Methodist Hospital’s Cen- ter for Performing Arts Medicine, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft — and more. A champion of new music, Kinetic has premiered over a dozen new works by emerging and established composers of our time, including Karim Al-Zand, Paul Novak, Daniel Temkin, and Alexandra T. Bryant.

Kinetic’s recording of Karim Al-Zand’s luctus profugis, which the ensemble premiered in 2017, is featured on the CD, Studies in Nature: new music by Karim Al-Zand, released by Centaur Records. The ensemble’s recordings of three string orchestra pieces by Pierre Jalbert was released on the Orchid Classics label in September 2021.

Kinetic Ensemble Discography