fivebyfive Announces TWO Major Grant Awards from NYSCA

Multi-year award totals $75,000 for organizational support; $10,000 provides artist support

Rochester, NY—fivebyfive, the Rochester-based quintet (flute, clarinet, electric guitar, bass, and piano), today announced the receipt of two major grant awards from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA): a three-year organization award of $25,000 annually, and a $10,000 award for artist support. The latter is for Occultation, a new work to be premiered in 2024 as part of the Eclipse project.

“NYSCA congratulates fivebyfive on their grant award!” said NYSCA Chair Katherine Nicolls. “New York State arts and culture organizations inspire New Yorkers and cultivate community in every region. Arts and culture are crucial to our state’s health, and the Council recognizes the dynamic impact of NYSCA grantees on the well-being of all New Yorkers.”

Speaking for fivebyfive, Laura Lentz—the ensemble’s flutist and artistic director—admitted that she was giddy on hearing the news. Her first reaction was “pinch me!”

“We are so appreciative of this demonstration of extended support by NYSCA,” said Lentz. “These two grants will take our ensemble to the next level of growth, and give us a chance to realize our mission even more strongly, more loudly, and more clearly, in the expanding communities we aim to serve.” Laura’s reference refers to the group’s resonance with the origins of the term “fivebyfive” from telecommunications, meaning “understood loud and clear.”

fivebyfive will utilize these grants for programming and artist-related support, including:

• Heavy: Music with Bite, a 21 concert at ARTISANworks featuring 10 works including four world premieres
• Playful Music 2 at the Strong Museum and area libraries
• an outdoor, pop-up concert at the Memorial Art Gallery
• of breath and fire, a glass-inspired program featuring premieres of Amy Nam’s title piece for fivebyfive with electric harp (through Chamber Music America), and by Norwegian composer Kari Telstad Sundet, a new arrangement by Brittany Green, and more
• a performance partnership during 2022 Climate Change Week
• a celebration of Rochester’s public murals
• collaboration with Pegasus Early Music Ensemble
• participation in the Total Solar Eclipse project with the Strasenburgh Planetarium performing the world premiere of Occultation by Jessica Meyer

“We could not have been able to bring so many of our ‘big’ ideas to fruition without NYSCA’s support,” concluded Lentz. “These grants are a real game changer for fivebyfive. We couldn’t be more thrilled to see what the future will bring.”

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ABOUT FIVEBYFIVE
fivebyfive (flute, clarinet, electric guitar, bass, and piano) is an artist-led, Rochester, NY-based ensemble formed in 2015 with a mission to engage audiences in the collaborative spirit and creativity of today’s chamber music. fivebyfive performs music of today’s leading and emerging composers from around the world; advocates for creators underrepresented in the field; and collaborates with artists across disciplines. The term “fivebyfive” is rooted in telecommunications through WWII to mean "I understand you perfectly,” with the first number representing radio signal strength, and the second representing signal clarity on a scale from 1-5, with 5 being the best. 5 by 5 therefore means the signal has excellent strength and perfect clarity—the most understandable signal possible. fivebyfive aims to send out its signal “loud and clear” to amplify and champion today’s leading and emerging composers. www.fivebyfivemusic.com.