Samantha Boshnack, a composer, created B’shnorkestra in 2011 to bring together musicians from different musical backgrounds. These compositions combine improvisation and groove with intricate orchestral music. B’shnorkestra presented a new repertoire in September 2011 with funding from the regional government and national agencies (4Culture, Meet The Composer and the Seattle Mayor’s Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs). B’shnorkestra received fiscal sponsorship from the New York Foundation for the Arts in 2012. B’shnorkestra recorded eight tracks at Bear Creek Studios with the support of a successful Kickstarter campaign. Present Sounds Recordings released “Go To Orange” in August 2013. Critically acclaimed, the album reached #40 on CMJ Jazz Charts 2013. B’shnorkestra won two Earshot Jazz Golden Ear Awards in 2013 – NW Acoustic Jazz Ensemble, and NW Recording of the Year for “Go To Orange”. B’shnorkestra participated in the 2012 and 2013 Earshot jazz Festivals. Joshua Kohl, composer and co-founder of The Degenerate Art Ensemble leads the ensemble. Alex Guy and Mirah, both violinists from Kultur Shock, make up the string section. All remaining string players have classical training but can perform with a variety artists such as Macklemore and Jim Knapp’s Scrape, Seattle Modern Orchestra and the Passenger String Quartet. Members of the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra make up the brass/woodwind section. Greg Campbell, co-leader of Anokye Agofomma’s traditional Ghanaina drumming band, Adam Kozie from the Pollens and Tim Carey are part of the Jovino Santos-Neto Trio. B’shnorkestra features Joshua Kohl, Alex Guy, Paris Hurley, Brianna Atwell, Maria Scherer Wilson, Daniel Mullikin, Carmen Rothwell, Tim Carey, Samantha Boshnack, Chris Credit, Kevin Nortness, Greg Campbell, Adam Kozie and Ivan Galvez. from https://thebshnorkestra.wordpress.com
