We've launched an exciting new project of our own! Introducing the Kickstarter app for iPhone!

Funded! This project successfully raised its funding goal on July 28, 2012.

Smoke and Mirrors Percussion Ensemble, Kickstarter Update #3

Update #3 · Jul 23, 2012 · comment

We have less than $1,000 to reach our goal and it's so exciting; we're in the home stretch but we're not there quite yet!  In this update, ensemble member Derek Tywoniuk sits down to talk about the album as well as the ensemble's plans for the upcoming season.  In the beginning of the video you'll hear an excerpt of Derek's arrangement of Ravel's "Sonatine," and at the end an excerpt of Derek's piece "Happenstance," both recorded by Smoke and Mirrors for this album!

Thanks everyone for your support so far, and if you haven't done so yet, it's not too late to join us and become a backer of this exciting project.

  • Video-142011-h264_high

Comment

The genesis of Smoke & Mirrors Ensemble

Update #2 · Jul 12, 2012 · comment

All of us in Smoke & Mirrors Ensemble met as students while at The Colburn School, in Los Angeles, CA.  We have now been playing together for three years.  While we grew up in different parts of the world, we were brought together to study music in the same place by our teacher, Jack Van Geem.  We have been fortunate to have the opportunity to be in the same wonderful place at the same time.  We are grateful for the opportunity to make music with such wonderful colleagues, and we plan to keep doing so into the future.  

Here is a short interview with Jack Van Geem in which he tells about his process of bringing us together.  You will also hear about the origin of our group's name, Smoke & Mirrors Ensemble.  

Thanks again to all our backers.  We are so close to our goal here at the halfway point, and we couldn't be here without you.

Thank you,

The Smoke & Mirrors Ensemble

  • Video-137415-h264_high

Comment

Sound Clips from the Smoke & Mirrors Ensemble's debut Album!

Update #1 · Jul 6, 2012 · comment

Thank you so much to all of you who have backed our debut album project.  In our opening week, we've reached $6,021 of $10,000!  We're more than half the way to funding our project, but we need to keep spreading the word.  

In this update, you'll hear 3 clips from the album, including one from the world premiere recording of Derek Tywoniuk's Happenstance.

1. from Happenstance, IV. On the Road by Derek Tywoniuk                                         (world premiere recording)

2. from Sonatine III. Anime by Maurice Ravel, Arr. Derek Tywoniuk

3. from Canticle No. 3 by Lou Harrison

We've also included photos from our first staged rehearsal of Takemitsu's From Me Flows What You Call Time and our most recent live performance (at The Huntington Botanical Garden in San Marino, CA.)

Please enjoy, and keep telling your friends about this Kickstarter page!

  • Image-133964-full
  • Image-133965-full
  • Loading

  • Loading

  • Loading

Comment
92
Backers
$10,649
pledged of $10,000 goal
0
seconds to go

Funding period
Jun 28, 2012 - Jul 28, 2012 (30 days)

  • Pledge $1 or more

    2 backers

    1) An mp3 download of Hymn from Happenstance by Derek Tywoniuk, and 2) you will be listed as a Smoke and Mirrors Supporter on our website and each of our 2012/13 season programs.

    Estimated delivery: Sep 2012
  • Pledge $5 or more

    1 backer

    1) A HI-RES mp3 download of Hymn from Happenstance by Derek Tywoniuk (with graphics and liner notes), and 2) you will be listed as a Smoke and Mirrors Supporter on our website and each of our 2012/13 season programs

    Estimated delivery: Sep 2012
  • Pledge $8 or more

    1 backer

    1) A HI-RES mp3 download of the complete Ravel Sonatine (3 parts), and 2) you will be listed as a Smoke and Mirrors Supporter on our website and each of our 2012/13 season programs

    Estimated delivery: Sep 2012
  • Pledge $10 or more

    5 backers

    1) A HI-RES mp3 download of the entire work (4 parts) Happenstance by Derek Tywoniuk, and 2) you will be listed as a Smoke and Mirrors Supporter on our website and each of our 2012/13 season programs.

    Estimated delivery: Sep 2012
  • Pledge $25 or more

    20 backers

    1) A copy of our Debut CD Smoke and Mirrors, 2) you will be listed as a Smoke and Mirrors Supporter on our website and each of our 2012/13 season programs.

    Estimated delivery: Oct 2012
  • Pledge $35 or more

    14 backers

    1) A copy of our Debut CD Smoke and Mirrors, 2) a hi-res mp3 of the entire album (including bonus tracks for download: Reich's Nagoya Marimbas and Takemitsu's Rain Tree), and 3) you will be listed as a Smoke and Mirrors Supporter on our website and each of our 2012/13 season programs.

    Estimated delivery: Oct 2012
  • Pledge $50 or more

    16 backers

    1) A signed copy of our debut CD, Smoke & Mirrors 2) Your name mentioned in a thank you video posted on our website 3) A HI-RES mp3 download the entire album 4) you will be listed as a Smoke and Mirrors Supporter on our website and each of our 2012/13 season programs.

    Estimated delivery: Oct 2012
  • Pledge $100 or more

    11 backers

    1) A signed and bound copy of the score to Happenstance 2) A signed copy of our debut CD, Smoke & Mirrors 3) Your name mentioned in a thank you video posted on our website 4) A HI-RES mp3 download the entire album 5) you will be listed as a Smoke and Mirrors Supporter on our website and each of our 2012/13 season programs.

    Estimated delivery: Oct 2012
  • Pledge $250 or more

    8 backers

    1) Your name will be in the album's liner notes. 2) A pair of drumsticks signed by Smoke & Mirrors 3) A signed and bound copy of the score to Happenstance 4) A signed copy of our debut CD, Smoke & Mirrors 5) Your name mentioned in a thank you video posted on our website 6) A HI-RES mp3 download the entire album 7) you will be listed as a Smoke and Mirrors Supporter on our website and each of our 2012/13 season programs.

    Estimated delivery: Oct 2012
  • Pledge $500 or more

    1 backer

    1) A behind-the-scenes tour of the Colburn percussion studio, including a short private concert, complete with a tea party (a Smoke and Mirrors tradition) 2) Your name will be in the album's liner notes. 3) A pair of drumsticks signed by Smoke & Mirrors 4) A signed and bound copy of the score to Happenstance 5) A signed copy of our debut CD, Smoke & Mirrors 6) Your name mentioned in a thank you video posted on our website 7) A HI-RES mp3 download the entire album 8) you will be listed as a Smoke and Mirrors Supporter on our website and each of our 2012/13 season programs.

    Estimated delivery: Oct 2012
  • Pledge $1,000 or more

    1 backer Limited (4 of 5 left)

    1) VIP attendance to a Street Symphony Concert, which will be dedicated to you and other $1000 pledges 2) Your name will be in the album's liner notes. 3) A pair of drumsticks signed by Smoke & Mirrors 4) A signed and bound copy of the score to Happenstance 5) A signed copy of our debut CD, Smoke & Mirrors 6) Your name mentioned in a thank you video posted on our website 7) A HI-RES mp3 download the entire album 8) you will be listed as a Smoke and Mirrors Supporter on our website and each of our 2012/13 season programs.

    Estimated delivery: Oct 2012
  • Pledge $2,500 or more

    1 backer Limited (2 of 3 left)

    1) Invitation to a private listening session of the master recording before it is pressed. (In Los Angeles only) 2) Your name will be in the album's liner notes. 3) A pair of drumsticks signed by Smoke & Mirrors 4) A signed and bound copy of the score to Happenstance 5) A signed copy of our debut CD, Smoke & Mirrors 6) Your name mentioned in a thank you video posted on our website 7) A HI-RES mp3 download the entire album 8) you will be listed as a Smoke and Mirrors Supporter on our website and each of our 2012/13 season programs.

    Estimated delivery: Oct 2012
  • Pledge $5,000 or more

    0 backers Limited (2 of 2 left)

    1) A private house show (within 75 miles of downtown Los Angeles) or a private concert streamed live online (if outside that zone) 2) You will be listed as a producer of the album in the liner notes 3) A pair of drumsticks signed by Smoke & Mirrors 4) A signed and bound copy of the score to Happenstance 5) A signed copy of our debut CD, Smoke & Mirrors 6) Your name mentioned in a thank you video posted on our website 7) A HI-RES mp3 download the entire album 8) you will be listed as a Smoke and Mirrors Supporter on our website and each of our 2012/13 season programs.

    Estimated delivery: Oct 2012
  • Pledge $10,000 or more

    0 backers Limited (2 of 2 left)

    1) A credit for underwriting the commission of a brand new percussion trio by Joe Beribak or Derek Tywoniuk (one for each pledger at this level), to be premiered during the 2012/13 season 2) A private house show (within 75 miles of downtown Los Angeles) or a private concert streamed live online (if outside that zone) 3) You will be listed as a producer of the album in the liner notes 4) A pair of drumsticks signed by Smoke & Mirrors 5) A signed and bound copy of the score to Happenstance 6) A signed copy of our debut CD, Smoke & Mirrors 7) Your name mentioned in a thank you video posted on our website 8) A HI-RES mp3 download the entire album 9) you will be listed as a Smoke and Mirrors Supporter on our website and each of our 2012/13 season programs.

    Estimated delivery: Nov 2012