Their Story
The unimaginable becomes reality through their performances.
The project was born in 2019 as a wish of a couple to bring their passions together. On the one hand, Sherezade Soriano, ballerina trained in classical and contemporary dance plus theater arts, and on the other hand, Jose Martínez, tuba player.
THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF EXISTENCE
The first few months of existence introduced the group to audiences in Spain, at the Numskull Brass Festival in Caudete, and in Portugal, at the Gravíssimo! Low Brass International Festival in Alcobaça.
Gene Pokorny, principal tubist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, described the duo’s performance in Portugal as follow:
“It was fabulous. It was great, with a beautiful sub-plot. On the night of the performance, when it was over, the audience exploded. They went nuts.”
The duo also traveled to France, in order to be coached and inspired by actor Cédric Chapuis and actress Margot Mouth (www.scenesplurielles.fr).
ON TOUR
Their first play, “Poiesis”, which means “Creation”, developed through these experiences into a very special project, “Adulthood Stories”, a tale told without the use of words via music, dance and theater.
“Adulthood Stories” was presented to the public at the end of 2019 while on tour, with pianist extraordinaire David Jiménez, in Spain and the USA (Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco and Boston).
Tim Higgins, composer of the music for “Poiesis” and principal trombone of the San Francisco Symphony, mentioned:
“The combination of all three of you onstage was magic.”
After the show in Chicago, Sérgio Carolino, international tuba soloist, exclaimed:
“…it creates EMOTIONS in everyone who experiences the show. Beautiful.”
During the summer of 2020, after another inspiring trip to the headquarters of the French company Scènes Plurielles, Duo2Arts participated at the #GESTO Street Dance Festival in Torrelodones (Spain). Juan de Torres, its Artistic Director, described the show like:
“It is like a Hollywood story, […] it is like a fairy tale, it is beautiful and very touching.”
CREATIVITY PRIZES & OTHER CREATIONS
The 2021/2022 season started with The American Prize Special Judges’ Citation for Unique Creativity, awarded by The American Prize Competition for the Performing Arts to Musical Theater Companies, thanks to the show “Adulthood Stories”.
Furthermore, a new play was presented, “Alma wants a tuba”, an educational show with narrator; story and illustrations by Ana María Alfonso and music by David Rivas; at the Teatro Municipal in Ponferrada (Spain).
A SUMMER TO NEVER FORGET
In August 2022, Duo2Arts world-premiered the piece “Sherezade”, a fantasy on a wedding day, with music by Ricardo Mollá, at the Jeju International Wind Ensemble Festival (South Korea). This performance was broadcasted through Korean Central Television.
Tomer Maschkowski, bass trombone of the Deutsche Symphonie Orchester Berlin, mentioned after the performance:
“Once again, big bravo for your concert. […] really beautiful!”
A 2023 TO REMEMBER
Winners of the 2023 International Tuba & Euphonium Association Jim and Jamie Self Creative Award with “Sherezade”, Duo2Arts world premiered “Poema Gestual” by Daniel Schvetz, with poems by Federico García Lorca, at the Isla Verde Bronces brass festival in Argentina, thanks to a generous donation from the Chicago Luminarts Cultural Foundation.
Rex Richardson, international trumpet soloist, stated:
“A beautiful and uplifting experience. José and Shere are total masters of their respective crafts and have managed to combine them with humor, intelligence and grace. Very highly recommended!”
Also a guest artist at Isla Verde Bronces, Bernhard Scully, former horn player of the Canadian Brass, pictured the scene as:
“…a breathtaking display of virtuosity and beauty. The tuba playing was of the highest caliber and the dancing was world class in all respects. I left the heart-warming performance feeling truly inspired”.
ON TO THE FUTURE
The wind band version of “Adulthood Stories” will be world premiered in April 2024 with the Huelva Symphony Wind Band, from Andalucia (Spain), under the baton of Francisco de la Poza.
In May 12th 2024, thanks to Bernd van Echelpoel, principal tuba player of the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, Duo2Arts will be showcased in a day of activities in Belgium, Flanders region.
The 2024/2025 season will have Duo2Arts performing through Spain, and on tour in Colombia, Brazil, United States and East Asia.
Without the presence of the following like-minded artists, some of our shows would not be possible:
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