This event is free to the community!
Join us at the Steamboat Art Museum for a performance from Empire Wild as a part of our 2025 Intersections: Music at the Museum series presented by Strings Music Festival and the Steamboat Art Museum. Doors open at 5:30pm, 6:00pm music, and a Q&A with the artists at 6:45pm. These free events are open to music lovers of all ages!
Empire Wild is a genre-bending, crossover ensemble founded by Mitchell Lyon and Ken Kubota, two Juilliard-trained cellists dedicated to exploring musical frontiers and pushing their instruments to the limit. The ensemble fuses pop, folk, jazz, and more into their innovative songwriting and composition. Since they first met as undergraduates at The Juilliard School, Mitch and Ken have shared a desire to explore further musical vistas. Mitch is driven by a passion for leading string players in new stylistic directions, incorporating contemporary techniques into existing repertoires, and challenging assumptions about the cello’s role in the broader musical landscape. Ken, seeking a renewed sense of purpose, redefined his approach to music, focusing on joy, collaboration, and the inspiration found in shared musical experiences. He often treats the cello like a guitar, exploring its capabilities and challenging its social norms. Both musicians are committed to community engagement and teaching, prioritizing creative musical outlets for students of all backgrounds. Empire Wild thrives on collaborations with unique artists, enriching performances, and offering audiences fresh, dynamic experiences. Together, they created Empire Wild to explore a wider sonic landscape, celebrating good music across genres and providing a platform to express diverse human experiences and emotions.