Ghost Ensemble came together thirteen years ago through our shared connections with the late composer Pauline Oliveros, inspired by her belief that “the most positive function of music at this time could be for healing separations that cloud the spirit of humanity.” Exploratory music-making, with its capacity for shared fascination, wonder, and awe, plays a vital role in bringing people together for solidarity, transformation, and growth.
Since our first season in 2013, our mission of creating transformative musical experiences has led to a broad range of meaningful collaborations: scores of innovative compositions by adventurous composers, countless hours of improvisation and sonic exploration, new instrumental inventions, and a series of workshops and gatherings building connections through Oliveros’s practice of Deep Listening.
This has been a challenging year for arts nonprofits in the United States, with a climate of threat and uncertainty creating unprecedented challenges for our ecosystem as for so many vital institutions in the US and beyond. At the same time, we feel certain that our programs of embodied, participatory music-making like Deep Listening in Community are more important than ever for creating and strengthening connections to one another and the world around us, cultivating hope and solidarity. Ghost Ensemble is profoundly fortunate to have a community of supporters that makes these activities possible. As our work relies ever more on the generous contributions of this community, your support is crucial to allowing this creative work to flourish.
Any (tax-deductible) contribution you are able to offer will make a vital difference in realizing our 2025-26 season.
Rev. Dr. Marisa Egerstrom, Senior Minister of Florence Congregational Church in Northampton, MA, shares a few words: “Ghost Ensemble has made a profound impact on the accessibility and inclusivity of experimental music in our community. In this furious moment, we are collectively feeling the effects of too long a deficit of opportunities for individuals to slow down, and return, quite literally, to their senses ... Ghost Ensemble provides a vehicle for building new forms and new depths of community — exactly at a time of rampant isolation and conflict.”
Many thanks for any support you can offer. We look forward to spending time in community together this coming year.