Music I Am #28 – Trevor Berens, pianist and intermittent composer
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The moment when you knew you wanted to be a musician:
I think it was more about when I realized I WAS a musician (and not just a person who played music for fun). And that was not a single moment, more of a growing awareness of who I was–I don’t think that awareness truly happened until undergrad. I had no idea what to do with it, as a life choice, until it was actually happening, but I was determined to figure it out as soon as I got out of grad school (CalArts).
An important skill for a career in music that does not have anything to do with an instrument or making music:
Being easy to work with is probably number one. Because there will always be more skilled musicians than you, who could just as easily get the next gig. But if people enjoy you as a person (and you show up prepared), they will be more likely to rehire you and to recommend you to others.
Two ways you stay motivated:
Walking in the woods as much as possible, more days than not.
Good food, especially good mushrooms.
Latest Project:
Sonic Liberation Players, my contemporary classical music ensemble (est. 2016)
What inspired it:
The California E.A.R. Unit was a fantastic ensemble in Los Angeles. I studied composition with its founder, and worked with several of its members, most significantly the pianist, Vicki Ray. I was a definite fanboy of the group, and what I most liked was how connected the members were. They were all monster players. Sonic Liberation Players has the same type of connection between its members, and we are all beyond supportive of one another.
Who’s on it:
Gabriel Solomon (violin and viola), Leah Bartell (violin, viola, occasional conducting), Joshua Jade (percussion), Andrea Lieberherr Douglass (flute), Jessica Tunick Berens (soprano voice). We may be adding new members this year…
How do you discover new music?
Going to concerts, word of mouth, social media groups.
One living and one dead musician that deserves more attention:
Dead = Stephen “Lucky” Mosko. He was one of my composition teachers and his music is totally original. Mixtures of modernism, post-modernism, anarchy, order, seriousness, humor. Always interesting, and always with moments of sparkling clarity. His trio, For Morton Feldman, deserves to be regularly played.
Living = Somei Satoh. Some of the most beautiful music I know…
Where can we find you online?
Upcoming Event you’d like to share?
A return to my Long Piano Project, planning for fall of 2023!
