ABOUT US

Sparks & Wiry Cries began in 2009 as a podcast and online magazine, contextualizing art song through the sharing of recordings, interviews, and articles by prominent artists and scholars. In 2015, co-founders soprano Martha Guth and pianist Erika Switzer expanded their vision by presenting an art song recital series based in New York City. In 2017, Sparks grew to include the songSLAM competition and a commissioning program. Today our sparksLIVE events and Art Song Magazine actively engage in current conversations through insightful publishing, programming, and commissioning. Recent additions to the Sparks brand are the curation and publication of new works through E.C. Schirmer and NewMusicShelf, and the development of art song performance projects as represented by UIA Talent Agency.

OUR STAFF

sparksDIGITAL A/V Producers

Neville Braithwaite, Video Producer
Becca Fox, Video Producer
Ryan MacEvoy McCullough, Audio Production
Julia Norelli, Audio Engineer
Andrew Staniland, Audio Production

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Kayo Iwama, Chair
Anya Matonovic
Matthew Principe
Rachel Schutz
Paul Sperry
Deborah Steinglass

ARTISTIC ADVISORY BOARD

Scholar Benjamin Binder
Baritone Jean Bernard Cerin
Composer Tom Cipullo
Lyricist Mark Campbell
Pianist Margo Garrett
Performer Rhiannon Giddens
Pianist Kathleen Kelly
Composer Gilda Lyons
Soprano Karen Slack
Composer Scott Wheeler
Scholar Susan Youens