Stick and Bow
Krystina Marcoux, marimba / percussion
Juan Sebastían Delgado, cello

Program

Music by UC Davis graduate student composers—

• Dean Kervin Boursiquot
• James Larkins
• Joseph Martin
• Samane Paya
• Zöe Wallace

Free

About Stick and Bow

Stick and Bow was formed under the charm of the vibrant city of Montreal when two young, passionate, energetic, and complementary musicians met. Awarded the prestigious Opus 2023 prizes for “Artists of the Year” and “Artistic Influence Abroad,” Stick and Bow stands out for its strong stage presence, genuine connection with the audience, carefully crafted scenography and staging, and eclectic repertoire.

Both classically trained, Canadian Krystina Marcoux and Argentine Juan Sebastían Delgado came together to present a wide range of musical styles. Through original arrangements, their various concert programs showcase some of the most celebrated works in history, transforming their interpretation with the unique combination of marimba and cello.

Stick and Bow firmly supports contemporary music and enriches the repertoire of their unique ensemble by commissioning new works. They present bold and accessible creations thanks to the compositions of artists such as Luis Naon, Camille Pépin, Luna Pearl Woolf, Jason Noble, Anna Pidgorna, Marcelo Nisinman, and others. In 2020, they directed a one-hour cine-concert with the Montreal ensemble Paramaribo and Luis Naon. To celebrate their fifth anniversary in 2023, they created the program “Cinco!,” performing a show entirely dedicated to new music, presenting ten new works commissioned specifically for this special event, in collaboration with Le Vivier.

This young duo has been very active, releasing three albums in three years. Their first album, Resonance, with Leaf Music, was praised by Toronto’s The WholeNote as “simply brilliant” and “totally delightful,” and by Montreal’s La Scena Musicale as full of “pleasant surprises” (2019). Their second album featured Bach’s trio sonatas with renowned baroque harpsichordist Luc Beauséjour, showcasing another side of these versatile young musicians (2021). Veni, Vola, Veni offers an original exploration of the frequently visited world of Piazzolla through the unique perspective of one of his collaborators from the 1970s and 80s, the legendary pianist and composer Gustavo Beytelmann. Critic Frédéric Cardin mentioned that “the meeting between the two young musicians and the Argentine patriarch, one of the few still alive today, is significant and adds flair not only to this music but also to this duo, which impresses everywhere they go.” Renowned journalist Victor Hugo Morales described their interpretation of Vardarito as one of the best interpretations of Piazzolla’s music on Radio Nacional Argentina.

Their recent performances have taken them on a 40-date tour of France with Jeunesses Musicales France, presenting their animated show Bavela (2022). They have performed at the prestigious Bach Festival Montréal and the Festival du Bout du Monde (Gaspésie), represented Quebec at the 2023 Semaine de la francophonie in Colombia, given 25 concerts throughout France in March 2023, participated in an Argentine chamber music festival, and performed at an international chamber music festival.