Marco Vanoppen

Marco Vanoppen is a Belgian musician/deconstructivist.

His field of work includes avant-garde music, improvisation, industrial music, experimental music, ... . He is/was a (founding) member of multiple bands and/or music projects. 

Marco was born in Hasselt, Limburg and is also known as Spurck.

Juan Manuel Romero Silvera

Born: November 26, 1974

Juan Romero embodies the role of musical cultural bridge: blending Latin and Afro-Uruguayan rhythmic heritage with the Scandinavian and global music scenes through both performance and education.

Collaborations & Projects

Juan Romero is actively involved with a range of ensembles:

• Juan Romeros Manuella Orkester, Fire Orchestra, Syrsan, Cosmic Ear, El Siri B.B y La?Perrera and others.

Notable recordings include work with Sara Parkman (Vesper, 2019; Eros?Agape?Filia, 2023), Fire Orchestra (Echoes, 2023), and Cosmic Ear (Traces, 2025)

Present & Community Involvement

Catherine Lee

Considered a “new breed of instrumental specialist,” (New Music Buff) Dr. Catherine Lee offers “immaculate, masterful oboe playing” (The Double Reed) in combination with inspired and discerning musicality across an impressive range of genres and styles. In addition to her classical, contemporary, interdisciplinary collaborations, and free improvisation performance, Lee regularly commissions evocative new music that showcases her “deep understanding of the expressive possibilities of her instruments in both traditional and extended techniques.” (New Music Buff) Lee also creates music, textile, video and photography pieces inspired by, and in collaboration with Bombyx mori, the domesticated silkmoth, creatively illuminating the life stages and silk cocoons of these amazing creatures.

Daniel Casares

Born: July 21, 1995

Daniel Casares is a jazz guitarist and composer from A Coruña, Spain. He studied at the Berklee College Of Music from 2014-2018 under the mentorship of Terence Blanchard, Dave Santoro, Darren Barrett, Kenny Werner, Mick Goodrick, Tim Miller, and many more. As a student he led a weekly set at the historic Wally's Jazz Cafe in Boston. After graduation, Daniel lived in New York City and was able to perform regularly as a sideman in the city's venues and clubs. He moved back to Galicia in 2019, where he performs often as a leader and sideman at the region's main musical venues. He completed a master's degree at SOAS University of London in 2022. In recent years, Daniel has performed at prestigious venues and festivals in the United States, Europe, and India.

Andrea Leone

Born: December 24, 1990

Andrea graduated with top honors in classical saxophone from the G.B. Martini Conservatory in Bologna in 2009, and in jazz saxophone with top marks from the G. Puccini Conservatory in La Spezia in 2013. In 2024, he completed a Master’s degree in jazz saxophone at Codarts University for the Arts in Rotterdam.

He has had the privilege of attending numerous masterclasses in both classical and jazz music with internationally renowned saxophonists such as Fabrice Moretti, Philippe LeCoque, Eugene Rousseau, Gilberto Monetti, George Garzone, Mark Turner, Rick Margitza, Enrico Rava, Greg Hutchinson, Peter Bernstein, Ben Wendel, Miguel Zenon, Pietro Tonolo, Maurizio Giammarco, Greg Osby, Ambrose Akinmusire, Stefano Battaglia, and many others.
In 2014, together with musicians Matteo Patelli (guitar) and Lorenzo Capello (drums), he founded the trio Freak Oil, performing original music composed by Andrea and Matteo. In 2015, the trio was selected as a finalist for the Premio Maletto competition in Milan. In the summer of 2016, they recorded their first album Used Shoes on a New Floor, featuring Danilo Gallo (Orange Home Records).
Since 2014, he has been part of HIC (Hidden Improviser Collective), led by maestro Claudio Lugo, exploring various approaches to free improvisation.
In 2017, he joined the band Marti for the presentation of their third album King of the Minibar, performing in renowned venues in Italy and Berlin.
In September 2017, he moved to Rotterdam to further study saxophone and improvised music at Codarts University for the Arts, under the guidance of musicians such as Tineke Postma, Simon Rigter, Ben van den Dungen, Stefan Lievestro, Tom Beek, Nils van Haften, among others. In Rotterdam, he had the opportunity to play with various bands in jazz clubs across the city and the Netherlands, and to perform with the Codarts Big Band alongside notable artists such as Reinier Baas and Peter Weniger at prominent jazz festivals including November Music (’s-Hertogenbosch) and the Dag van de Rotterdamse Jazz (2018). In 2019, he won second prize with the Codarts Big Band in the Top Class category at the Corendon International Big Band Competition.

Midnight Channel

Active since: 2022

Midnight Channel (Lethbridge, AB) made a powerful debut with their album “Gemini Sunrise”, hitting #10 on the National Earshot! Jazz Charts, establishing themselves as a rising force in Canada’s jazz scene. Their sound blends the boundary-pushing spirit of 1960s cosmic free jazz with the vibrant energy of modern jazz. Infused with elements of contemporary post-bop, Japanese fusion, and neo-soul grooves, Midnight Channel brings a sound that’s both rooted in tradition yet refreshingly modern—perfect for longtime jazz fans and first-time listeners alike. Their live performances are an explosion of energy, soaring improvisations, and contagious joy, transforming the stage into a sacred space where audiences are held spellbound. 

Klaus Gesing

Matt Glassmeyer

Born: June 16, 1975

Glassmeyer composes and improvises often using the Wurlitzer electric piano, acoustic piano, reedless and standard tenor saxophones, percussion, contra-alto clarinet and voice. Current groups include Hompulon (Tom Spiker, Jon Goldberger, Tim Keiper, Dana Lyn, Brian Drye), Slowest Accordion (Oliver Wood, Mark Raudabaugh, Ted Pecchio), Glassmeyer's Live Band (Ethan Jodzievicz, Mark Raudabaugh, JP Ruiggieri), duo with Ben Garnett, Rix Glassmeyer with Jano Rix, Meadownoise (solo studio tracks), and Global Abacus Supply Matt is the inventor of the shuitar and the reedless saxophone (buzzaphone)

Thomas Hutchings

Kip Jones

Born: August 10

Composer and violinist Kip Jones is known for his work with the string quartet ETHEL, his compositions involving groovy string textures and improvisation, and his solo performances of violin-and voice polyphony under the name HALLAZGO.  He has also recorded minimalist chamber jazz under the name Rhinodust and prog/folk fusion under the name Morning Zephyr.

He has appeared as a featured composer and soloist with the Colorado Ballet, A Far Cry, the Valley Chamber Chorale, and the Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra.  As a member of ETHEL he has recorded and toured with Kaki King, Robert Mirabal, Todd Rundgren, Layale Chaker, and Raven Chacon.