Music to Open the Mind w/ the Ajibola String Quintet in West Philly

Cellist and Composer Ajibola Rivers returns to Artcinia with new music and vision. His compositions and arrangements will introduce the audience to music they have never heard before and old favorites that have been expanded through his unique writing style and philosophy. This program will feature several of his original compositions, including: selections from his six cello suites; commissions from birthdays and weddings; and arrangements of popular music both old and new. With genres ranging from classical to bossa nova, to Disney, to pop, "Music to Open the Mind" promises to be an experience to remember.

Personnel:

Ajibola Rivers, Cellist, Composer, and Arranger

Alberta Douglas, Violin 1

Carlos Santiago, Violin 2

Matthew Pickart, Viola

Nicholas Hernandez, Bass

About Ajibola Rivers:

Ajibola Rivers is a Nigerian-American-Cherokee performing artist currently residing in Norristown, PA. He received his Cello Performance degree from the Boyer College of Music and Dance and is a proud recipient of the prestigious TU 30 Under 30 award for 2024. Ajibola is also a self-taught composer and arranger. He began informally composing during his junior year of high school. When he applied to Boyer, he applied for a Music Composition degree as well as Cello Performance. He was accepted into a double major program but quickly found that the popularized twentieth and twenty first century writing styles were not in line with his interests. Ajibola left the program and after a two-year hiatus he resumed composing, following his own instincts. He now regularly writes and premieres original compositions and arrangements, and he has been commissioned several times.​Ajibola has a strong passion for teaching, viewing it as the final evolution of performing art, and he heavily incorporates learning into both composition and performance. He wishes to revive several "unfinished conversations" in classical music and to facilitate a healthy dialogue between classical music and other genres. Learn More

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