VARIOUS BIOS

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Hot Wrk Ensemble explores, deconstructs and “wrks out” concepts of traditional chamber music with an audience inclusive concert experience. 

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Hot Wrk Ensemble is diverse, genre-defying “chamber grooves.” A saxophone/woodwind and percussion ensemble founded by award-winning and innovative saxophonists Lois Hicks-Wozniak and Brad Hubbard and joined by percussionists Angel Michael Lau and Dave Previ. Hot Wrk explores, deconstructs and “wrks out” concepts of traditional chamber music and the concert experience with an audience inclusive approach. Performances include everything from contemporary art music, jazz, world music styles, original compositions, early Baroque, exploratory sound improvisation and arrangements of popular artists such as Dolly Parton, The Beatles, The Black Eyed Peas, Stevie Wonder and more!  

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Hot Wrk Ensemble, a saxophone/woodwind and percussion trio founded in 2020 by award-winning musicians Lois Hicks-Wozniak and Brad Hubbard, is committed to creating community through diverse, genre-defying “chamber grooves”. Both questioning and answering: “what is chamber music?”, Hot Wrk explores, deconstructs and “wrks out” concepts of traditional chamber music and the concert experience. “…a trio of phenomenally talented local musicians, Hot Wrk Ensemble. Are they a contemporary classical ensemble with truly eclectic instrumentation? A jazz group that has both Miles Davis and Domenico Scarlatti in their "book"? Three gifted composer/musician/improvisers with a uniquely panglobal focus? The single answer to all those questions is a resounding ‘YES!’  In short, HWE is the very poster child for broadly inclusive, unconventional cultural engagement.” (Elysium Furnace Works)

With Olivia Kieffer’s breathless ride, Hot Work, as the inspiration for their ensemble name, programs can include: Baroque gems by Scarlatti, Medieval dances, Arabic muwashshah, Son Jalisciense, Bossa Nova, Funk, free improvisation/exploratory sound, arrangements of Dolly Parton, the Black Eyed Peas, the Beatles, and prepared electronics and original compositions for and by ensemble members. Hot Wrk is an interactive experience with a mission that breaks the 4th wall and invites audiences to engage – through the idea of musicking -- that community and music is also created by sharing thoughts, asking questions, contributing ideas and listening. Hot Wrk Ensemble believes chamber music can be a voice for change by engaging communities to interact with and partake in the creation process – breaking systemic barriers that have placed classical and jazz in niche markets. Saxophone and percussion are not just limited to jazz and chamber music is not a narrow definition but is dynamic and evolving.

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Hot Wrk Ensemble, a saxophone/woodwind and percussion trio founded in 2020 by award-winning musicians Lois Hicks-Wozniak and Brad Hubbard, is committed to creating community through diverse, genre-eclectic “chamber grooves”. Both questioning and answering: “what is chamber music?”, Hot Wrk explores, deconstructs and “wrks out” concepts of traditional chamber music and the concert experience. “…a trio of phenomenally talented local musicians, Hot Wrk Ensemble. Are they a contemporary classical ensemble with truly eclectic instrumentation? A jazz group that has both Miles Davis and Domenico Scarlatti in their "book"? Three gifted composer/musician/improvisers with a uniquely panglobal focus? The single answer to all those questions is a resounding ‘YES!’  In short, HWE is the very poster child for broadly inclusive, unconventional cultural engagement.” (Elysium Furnace Works)

With Olivia Kieffer’s breathless ride, Hot Work, as the inspiration for their ensemble name, programs can include: Baroque gems by Scarlatti, Son Jalisciense, Bossa Nova, Funk, free jazz, Dolly Parton, the Black Eyed Peas, the Beatles, prepared electronics and original compositions for and by ensemble members. Hot Wrk is an interactive experience with a mission that breaks the 4th wall and invites audiences to engage – through the idea of musicking -- that community and music is also created by sharing thoughts, asking questions, contributing ideas and listening. Hot Wrk Ensemble believes chamber music can be a voice for change by engaging communities to interact with and partake in the creation process – breaking systemic barriers that have placed classical and jazz in niche markets. Saxophone and percussion are not just limited to jazz and chamber music is not a narrow definition but is dynamic and changing. “Hot Wrk demonstrated that there is a greater breadth of saxophone and percussion music out there than you might imagine…it is through metamorphosis that we conjure glimpses of eternity.” (CRS - Center for Remembrance and Sharing)

Recipients of numerous awards and grants, Hot Wrk were featured artists at the Orange County Arts Council (NY) Arts Affair, were they premiered a commissioned multi-movement work, Vibrations for chamber trio and digital audio tracks; a work that celebrates the vibrations in nature and music that connect all beings.

Hot Wrk has presented at the Beacon Bonfire Festival, Beattie-Powers Place, Concerts Con Brio, CRS: Center for Remembrance and Sharing (NYC), Elysium Furnace Works, Howland Cultural Center, the Old Dutch Church of Kingston, the Players Theatre (NYC), Savage Wonder Festival SUNY Schenectady, the Wallkill River Center for the Arts, and many public libraries in the Hudson Valley. The trio has presented themed concerts including Women’s History Month and Juneteenth, as well as partnered with many artists to include jazz violinist, composer and Guggenheim Fellow, Gwen Laster. They have held an artist residency at Savage Wonder since 2025. 

Origin Story

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A living room solo concert for a friend recovering from surgery during the 2020 pandemic shutdown was the setting, when award-winning saxophonist, Lois Hicks-Wozniak, discovered her non-musician friends wanted to comment and share their inspirations and ideas to the music following each selection, as well as ask detailed questions. The intimate performance encouraged a conversation that would otherwise have been prohibited during a “traditional” chamber music recital. Lois found herself energized and impassioned to create a community connected ensemble, along with baritone saxophonist and flute player, Brad Hubbard, former member of the New Century Saxophone Quartet and a fixture in countless ensembles. Lois and Brad explored the possibilities of a saxophone duo before collaborating with percussionists and developing what is now the the inspiring and genre-defying trio Hot Wrk Ensemble. 

saxophone/woodwind and percussion trio creates community with diverse, genre-defying “chamber grooves.”  (104 characters)

A powerhouse trio that won’t let you put them in a box - jazz, classical, contemporary art, improvised sound exploration, originals, Afro-pop inspired, Country, Beatles, Stevie Wonder and much more! (29 words)