Aytia/Matia
experiential entertainment
Grayson Sanders (Founder, Artistic Director)
Grayson recently earned his BM from NYU's Music Theory and Composition program, where he was a student of Jerica Oblak and Justin Dello Joio. He is a film and concert music composer, performer, and the founder of the Aytia/Matia Experiential Performance Group. At age 11 he won the Connecticut Young Composer's Competition, having his piece performed by the Hartford Symphony at the historic Bushnell Theater and Opera House. In addition to his chamber works and over 65-song repertoire, he has written a number of large works including an electronic piece for 32-piece orchestra based around the game of chess as a live-performable matrix, two large symphonic works, "The Windtunnels Suite, (Premiered by the NYU Symphony)" "Clusters/Metal," and a 40-minute electro-acoustic chamber suite entitled "Pyramid Scheme." (Premiered at Aytia|Matia I: Sleep Cycles). In addition, Grayson has scored 8 films including Alexander Russek's "BTG," and "Money Jungle" produced by Spot Creative. He recently completed his first feature-length film score for network television.
Grayson is also active in the pop music world, writing songs and arrangements for recording artists and performing himself. In 2008 his remix of Radiohead's "The Reckoner" reached top 10 in the world, earning him personal kudos from popular producer Diplo (M.I.A., Santo Gold). He did classically inspired arrangements for recording artist NIIA that were performed on Wyclef Jean's 2008 World Tour in support of his Album "Carnival Vol. II." Grayson's psych-pop band MEM, in addition to earning a video feature on Blender Magazine Online in 2009, recently entered the recording studio with acclaimed producer Dave Trumfio (Wilco, My Morning Jacket) to record their new full-length album. Recently Grayson completed two orchestral commissions for Paul Haas' SYMPHO, and is writing on the freelance commercial staff for both Spot Creative and Nonstop-Warner/Chappell Publishing. GraysonSandersMusic.org
Andrew Rea (Associate Producer, Filmmaker)
Andrew Rea was born in Rochester, New York. He became interested in film at an early age, becoming the co-instructor of his high schools moviemaking course during his sophomore year. He attended Hofstra University for Film Studies & Production, during which he took part in over 25 independent and major studio projects, eventually interning for Academy Award-winning producer Scott Rudin. During his freshman year, he completed a feature documentary following the post-Katrina recovery effort in New Orleans which was used as a recruitment tool in colleges across the country. One of his more recent documentaries, Martin Luther King Drive, chronicles an inner-city honor students reuniting with his childhood friends, now drug dealers and gang members.
After winning Best Picture and Best Director at Hofstras film festival for his latest narrative film, Cowards Run in Packs, he moved to Brooklyn to begin his film career. He initially worked as a sous chef for The Chocolate Room, a Park Slope dessert and wine café. Now, when not working with Aytia Matia, he works as an assistant editor at Point.360 New York in midtown, where he is currently assisting on a project about dinosaurs having sex. You heard him right.
He learned about Aytia Matia from its co-founder, Grayson Sanders. After assisting as a stagehand and videographer for the groups maiden show, Sleep Cycles, Andrew knew he wanted to become more involved in the core planning and creative structure of future performances. He is now very excited to work as an associate producer on future projects and hopes he can bring new and unique facets to an already one-of-a-kind group of creative minds. www.andrewreafilms.com
Ben Lear (Multimedia Artist)
Ben Lear was born and raised in Santa Monica, California. He began writing poems in elementary school and at age nine had one published in Hillary Clintons anthology of childrens poems, Dear Socks, Dear Buddy.
A few years later, Ben discovered the guitar and formed a band, in which he wrote and performed his own songs. Ben's continued passion for music led him, in the fall of 2006, to NYUs Music Composition program. At NYU, he developed an interest in concert music and began to use orchestral colors in his own songwriting. In early 2009, he began writing his first large-scale composition, an indie-folk opera for a fifteen-piece band about a man, who must scuba dive to the great pacific garbage patch to reclaim all hes lost in life.
In the fall of his senior year, Ben helped Grayson form the multi-media art group, Aytia Matia. This coming spring, the group will bring Bens opera, Lillian, to life on stage, complete with a full set and projected video.
Throughout this time, Ben never lost his passion for creative writing. He was a creative writing minor at NYU and in 2008 had his short story, Storstad, published in the Huffington Post.
In the near future, Ben hopes to tour his music, direct a feature film, write a novel, and continue to weave all three together into Aytia/Matia events. Why not?
Paul Haas (Music Director, Conductor)
According to the New York Times, Paul Haas is surely on the brink of a noteworthy career. His conducting engagements have included performances with the San Antonio Symphony, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, among others, as well as festival appearances. Recently, Paul conducted the National Symphony Orchestra with Itzhak Perlman as soloist, and the Washington Post had this to say:
"The young conductor Paul Haas was all about fresh thinking and visceral engagement. His musicmaking revealed a keen musical mind and an impressive feeling for the natural pulse and trajectory of a score... Haas's sensitivity to rhythmic and dynamic gradation, and his ability to marry heartfelt expression with disciplined playing from the NSO...would have been impressive in a conductor three times his age. If Thursdays concert was an accurate barometer of his talents, Haas is headed for a significant podium career."
In addition to his orchestral engagements, Paul Haas is the founder and Artistic Director of Sympho, a groundbreaking concert production company. Symphos first concert, REWIND, is a revolutionary visual and sonic experience that has been lauded by critics. REWIND Refits the Classical Experience for a New Century, blared the New York Times headline. "Something momentous has occurred," raved the San Francisco Chronicle. And Symphony Magazine declared, "Something important was happening, something with emotional stakes." Haas unveiled Symphos second concert experience, TRACES, to rave reviews in March 2008, and Symphos new FLECTION concert premiered in May 2009 in New York City. For more information, please visit the website at www.SymphoConcerts.org.
Mr. Haas maintains an active role in the contemporary music scene, having commissioned dozens of new works, including one for every concert he conducted as Music Director of the New York Youth Symphony as part of its ASCAP Award-winning "First Music" program and over twenty commissions as Artistic Director of Sympho. His numerous television and radio appearances include features on a "CBS Sunday Morning" special entitled "American Maestro" and the McGraw-Hill Young Artists Showcase on New York's WQXR. Mr. Haas and the New York Youth Symphony were awarded the ASCAP-League of American Orchestras Bernstein Award for Educational Programming, the first time that coveted award has ever been presented to a youth orchestra. Haas was recently selected out of hundreds to perform in the League of American Orchestras prestigious National Conductor Preview.
Mr. Haas also enjoys a burgeoning composing career, having received the Selden Memorial Award and Friends of Music Composition Prize of Yale University. He recently conducted the premiere of his Matthew Says for orchestra, chorus, and two violin soloists at Carnegie Hall and premiered two orchestral pieces in New York City during the 2008-09 season. Other works include an a cappella Mass, as well as various orchestral and chamber works. Paul Haas is a graduate of Yale University and the Juilliard School, where he studied conducting as a Bruno Walter Fellow with Otto-Werner Mueller. www.SymphoConcerts.org
Mark Alan Johnson (Technical Supervisor, Projection Artist)
Mark Alan Johnson aka Doctor Mojo is a rare hybrid of artist and technician who specializes in projection and multimedia display technology. He is the former CTO of a full service video production company and is currently sole proprietor of Mojo Video Tech which operates a digital media studio in Long Island City.
Mark Alan began his diverse career as a musician, playing guitar and composing for numerous projects including the avant-rock ensemble KURU. The band achieved regional success in the early 90's and relocated from upstate New York to NYC. During this period Mojo was also a prolific graphic artist, creating promotional materials for the band and much more, eventually developing a focus on experimental visual art and projection techniques which in turn lead to his current work in the world of video.
As an industry professional with 15 years of experience in various production environments including touring, studio situations and special events, he has created content and designed projection systems for a wide range of events including product launches (Nike, Reebok, T-Mobile), corporate events (Sports Illustrated, GQ Magazine, Mercedes Benz), theater (Les Miserables), dance (The JOYCE) and concert tours (Living Colour, Donna Summer, The (Grateful) Dead). Recent credits include projectionist for 'Le Damnation De Faust' at the Metropolitan Opera in NYC, which utilized highly advanced interactive video projection technology. More information on the Doctor's work is available on his website : www.mojovideotech.com
Rachelle Beckerman (Lighting and Scenic Designer)
Rachelle Beckerman was born and raised in Albany, NY. At age 15 she decided on a future in photography, at 16, theatre and ended up with a BA from SUNY Buffalo in Photography and Theatre Production & Technology. In 2004 she headed to Ohio University after a two year hiatus from the arts and studied with Ursula Belden and Michael Lincoln where she received her MFA in Production Design & Technology with a focus in Lighting and Scenic Design. In her first year at OU Rachelle spent a term studying at Central St. Martins College of Art and Design in London, where the three
months she spent exploring opened her eyes to alternative theatre practices.
A year and a half later, she found herself submerged in work on the 2007 Prague Quadrennial (PQ) with Ursula Belden, building the OU submission as well as assisting Ursula with work on the USA national and student exhibits. The summer of 2007 was consumed with attending PQ 07 and interning with Warner en Consorten, a street theatre company in Amsterdam, NL. In the months with Warner en Consorten, she spent time in the studio discovering, rehearsing and expanding pieces with the company and performing in The Netherlands, as well as Aurillac, France.
Since moving to NYC, she has had the pleasure of staying busy with many projects including the production design for Elizabeth Audley's all over. for Fringe NYC 2009, as well as the lighting & scenic designs for both The F Trip, written and performed by Kim Schultz and Emily by Chris Cragin with The Firebone Theatre Company. Currently, Rachelle is participating in the curatorial and design process for the USITT/USA student design exhibit for PQ 2011, titled Emerge, while working with Aytia/Matia getting ready for future productions.
Zach Goldstein (Video Content Supervisor, Filmmaker)
Zach Goldstein is a writer, director, cinematographer, editor, and producer. His passion for filmmaking originates from the sum of earlier interests in music, drawing, photography and theater. Zach specializes in live multi-camera event production which has included tons of music concerts, experimental art, fashion shows and various business materials. He also independently produces through a commercial collective of individuals under the umbrella name of West Egg Productions. His ongoing work through West Egg has included commercial advertising, short form documentary work, and various freelanced motion graphics. Zach has a growing interest in experimental installation art which has lead him to contribute to the groundbreaking artist collective Aytia|Matia. www.westeggproductions.com/
Robert Ingram (Production Manager, Sound Engineer)
Robert Ingram has been in and around the arts for his entire life. Having been a student, technician, performer, and teacher has given him a unique insight into the world of theatrical and event production. He has been production managing, designing and consulting for various venues, production companies, and groups in the NYC area for the past 2 years. Previously his work has been seen in Washington DC, St. George UT, and in Western New York. Most recently his work includes Sound Designs for the Midtown International Theatre Festival, in off Broadway spaces such as The Zipper Factory, and a Sound and Lighting Design at the Bergen Tech Academy in Bergen County NJ. Additionally, Mr. Ingram has consulted on various night clubs in the Buffalo, NY area, on events for New York City Fashion week, and fan celebration events for the NY Mets and Yankees and the Washington Capitals. Over the course of his career he has been involved with a number of large productions including working on the the televised broadcast of the Neighborhood Ball during the Inauguration of President Obama last January. He is a graduate of Niagara University and SUNY at Buffalo. Most of his time is spent trying to build and grow his newly formed company RD Ingram Entertainment and Consulting.
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