Gregory Askins and Joseph Parisi, guitars
Tuesday, February 19, 2013, at 7:30 PM
WMP Concert Hall
31 East 28th Street (between Madison and Park Avenues)
New York City (see map)
Program
PARISI Collage, Suite Mexicana
BRUBECK Two-Part Adventures
RAMEAU First Book of Harpsichord Pieces
GERSHWIN Preludes
ADAM Giselle
Nylon Wound was established in 2002, combining the artistry of Gregory Askins and Joseph Parisi, to provide and promote the classical guitar in various venues and programs for public enrichment. The duo performs original compositions and arrangements for two guitars in addition to the standard repertory.
Since their debut in JuneFest 2004, they have created and developed a unique and extensive repertory, setting them apart from other duos and groups. Their work has been noticed by various dance companies that resulted in performance partnerships with the Eglevsky Ballet, the Staten Island Ballet and Lydia’s Dance. In 2005, they established the Neighborhood Concert Series, bringing free classical guitar performances to local neighborhood venues throughout Staten Island and the New York Metropolitan area, including libraries, parks, churches, hospitals, and the Staten Island Ferry Whitehall Terminal. In 2006, they created the Performance and Partnership Outreach Programs to provide performance opportunities for student instrumentalists and services to educational institutions to complement their educational, performance and cultural activities. On Staten Island, this effort has resulted in performances at PS 59; Curtis, Port Richmond and Petrides high schools; and off Staten Island at Immaculate Conception School, Bronx and Cristo Rey High School and Harlem Success Academies.
In 2007, they toured eight cities in Switzerland, culminating in a performance at noted Swiss instrument builder Karl Koch’s Concert Hall in Luzern. In 2008, they performed in the River to River Festival — Zuccotti Park Lunchtime Concerts, and in 2012 at the Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center. Their music was used exclusively for the award winning documentary It Was A Tuesday by Jennifer Casriel, which tracked children of 9/11 ten years after. Their first CD, In Motion, available on cdbaby.com, contains original duets they have composed and arranged. Nylon Wound was selected for the COAHSI 2004 Performing Arts Award, 2005 Premier Grant, 2006-2008 Encore Grants, 2008 JPMC Arts & Communities Grant, and corporate Matching Gift Programs from UBS, Goldman Sachs & Co and RBC Capital Markets. The duo incorporated in 2005 as a nonprofit 501c3.
Gregory Askins has performed in various venues throughout the New York Metropolitan area including Trinity Church, Soho Galleries, and historic landmarks, libraries and cultural centers. He was the featured guitarist at the Lake Café SINY for several years. He has also performed in theaters in Narrowsburg, New York, and throughout the midwest, including Steinway Hall (UT) and Babcock Theater (MT). Gregory has independently recorded four CD’s: Six String Solstice, Two Shades of Time, The Dancing Guitar and The Classical Guitar for the Touring Dancer. He is a graduate of Hunter College (BA) and The University of Utah (MFA). Apart from performing and teaching guitar, he also dances and teaches ballet at Adelphi University. His ballet, A Day In The Office – A Night In The Park, choreographed to music by Joseph Parisi, was performed by the S.I. Ballet at The NY International Choreographers Festival with Nylon Wound performing the score live. His ballet, Shape & Form, also choreographed to music by Joseph Parisi, was performed at Dance Adelphi in Fall of 2010.
Joseph Parisi has performed throughout the New York Metropolitan area, including Carnegie Recital Hall and radio station WNYC. He has performed regularly with the Golden Attic Chamber Ensemble (SI), The Crossroads Concert Ensemble (NYC), and on other projects utilizing the guitar in unique settings. In Italy, he has performed in the Sessioni Senesi Festival while attending master classes in guitar and composition at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana. He is a graduate of the Mannes College of Music (BM), New York University (MA) & Accademia Musicale Chigiana (Diploma). He has taught guitar and guitar ensemble at the Bronx House Music School, Musication Incorporated, and privately. In addition to performing, he has composed various works for guitar. His composition Collage for 2 Guitars was composed for and premiered by Nylon Wound at JuneFest 2004. Soundscape for 2 Guitars was premiered by Nylon Wound at St. Marks Parish Hall, NYC. Shades of Blue was premiered during the Nylon Wound Neighborhood Concert Series (NCS) 2006, Fiddle-Dee during the NCS 2007, his arrangements of David Brubeck’s Nocturnes, during NCS 2008 and Suite Mexicana at the Port Richmond Library 2008.
Nylon Wound has been awarded a Performing Arts Award by the Council on the Arts and Humanities for Staten Island (COAHSI), a Premier Grant, Encore Grants, Creative Communities Grant, and JPMorgan Chase capacity-building grants.
