NEWS

Feb 2, 2024

Cleveland Institute of Music: This coming fall, Julian joins as guest teaching faculty for the upcoming new saxophone studio at CIM under the direction of Steven Banks.

Aug 24, 2023

Chicago Classical Review: At the top of his game all evening, Kalmar led an incisive and idiomatic performance of Rachmaninoff’s swan-song. The stern restlessness of the opening movement’s main theme contrasted pointedly with the lean lyricism of the secondary theme, the latter nicely enhanced by Julian Velasco’s sinuous saxophone. The conductor and musicians conveyed the eerie, unsettling qualities of the Andante’s spectral waltz.

Jan 9, 2023

AllMusic: The largely tonal acoustic pieces and the atonal electronic ones coexist comfortably, in part to the work of producer James Ginsburg (son of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg), who received a 2022 Grammy nomination for Best Producer in part for this release. A must for lovers of the saxophone, this is a thoroughly enjoyable contemporary release for anyone.

Jan 5, 2023

The Whole Note: As We Are is an exciting album of contemporary music for the saxophone performed with passion and precision.

Jan. 1, 2023

New Single: Arc Index by Adam Holmes releases today.

Dec. 18, 2022

Third Coast Review: Chicago’s Cedille Records Keeps Putting Out Great Stuff

Oct. 5, 2022

Gramophone: “Gorgeous… raucous… lovely…. What a way for a young saxophonist to break into the big time.”

Sept. 20, 2022

Chicago Tribune: A phenomenal sax soloist and a sad farewell at Chicago Sinfonietta’s Season Opener

Sept. 20, 2022

Chicago Classical Review: Sinfonietta opens with Italian pines, a somber tribute and the joy of sax

Sept. 2, 2022

As We Are debuts at #4 on Billboard’s Traditional Classical Album Charts

Aug. 19, 2022

As We Are releases today on Cedille Records

May 20, 2022

Chicago Classical Review:
Nevermore Festival takes first flight with joyful ~Nois

“There is an obvious chemistry between the two groups [~Nois and Kinds of Kings], who have been champions of each other’s work since 2018, when Peacocke and the quartet were in residence together at the Ojai Music Festival. The composers’ rock ‘n roll sensibilities—which traces its lineage back to Bang on a Can founder Julia Wolfe—are simpatico with the effusive charisma indie-pop vibe that have become ~Nois’ signature.”

Apr. 15th, 2022

Chicago Sinfonietta 2022/23 Season Announcement

SEPTEMBER 17, 2022 AT 8:00 PM | WENTZ CONCERT HALL
SEPTEMBER 19, 2022 AT 7:30 PM | SYMPHONY CENTER

NEXT: the program highlights Cedille Records Emerging Artists Competition Winner, Julian Velasco, and his debut with Sinfonietta on Roberto Sierra’s jazz-infused Saxophone Concerto.

Dec. 8th, 2021

Chicago’s Top 10 moments in classical music, opera and jazz that defined 2021

“So much in the catalog is worthy of repeat listenings, but to suggest just a few…composer/singer Annika Socolofsky’s grotesquely gorgeous “I Tell You Me,” performed by Socolofsky and ~Nois saxophone quartet”

Nov. 22nd, 2021

Announced Winner of the Cedille Records Emerging Artist Competition. Debut Record to be released on record label Fall 2022.

Oct. 6th, 2021

“Annika Socolofsky’s “I Tell You Me” (in its world-premiere performance by ~Nois saxophone quartet and Socolofsky herself) as among the most captivating compositions I heard the whole festival.”

Aug. 2nd 2021

“In addition to the starry headliners, there were also students from the Bang on a Can summer institute who were given moments to shine. A few of them seemed ready to build ensembles of their own, and perhaps return for future festivals. The saxophonist Julian Velasco, for example, excelled as part of a mixed professional and student ensemble in Julius Eastman’s “Feminine” on Friday, and as part of a duo playing Shelley Washinton’s “BIG Talk” on Saturday.”