Meet Siroko Duo's Jessie Nucho and Victoria "Tori" Hauk! On March 25, 2017, Jessie and Tori will perform an entire program written by living women composers, including two world premieres. Find out about the origins of Siroko, their creative process, and fun facts about their lives.

Tell us about the origins of Siroko Duo.
 
Tori: We met during our graduate studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. We first started playing together when Kyle Randall asked us to perform his duet, Tarantella, in May of 2015. The experience made us realize how much we enjoyed working and performing together. The following summer we completed a recording project with Kyle, playing his Tarantella and Lucas Floyd’s Chase Study. I think it was that recording project that sparked the idea of Siroko Duo. The following November, we performed our debut concert as Siroko!

Meet Izabel Austin! On March 25, 2017, Siroko will perform her work The Speed of Darkness for two flutes. Find out about her background, her piece, and fun facts about her life.

Tell us a little about yourself - where you’re currently based, your musical journey so far, and where you think you’re going.
 
I'm currently based in Eugene, OR and recently graduated from University of Oregon with a B.M. in Music Composition and Violin Performance. I've played and loved music my whole life but didn't think of it as a career option until my last year of high school (I actually applied to most colleges as an English/Creative Writing major). I had a difficult time when I first started music school, as I was far more inexperienced than most of my peers who had lived and breathed classical music from a young age, but I worked as hard as I could and ended up finding that my somewhat unconventional background actually gave me an edge in some areas. I have tentative plans to go to LA to do some film scoring work in the near future. Other than that I'm not entirely certain where my next adventure will take me, but for the moment I'm enjoying the feeling of all potential paths being open to me.

Meet Chelsea Loew! On March 25, 2017, Siroko will be giving the world-premiere of her new work Hughes of Sylvia for flute and alto flute. Learn about her background, her piece, and fun facts about her life.​

Tell us a little about yourself - where you’re currently based, your musical journey so far, and where you think you’re going.
 
In elementary school, I received a light-up keyboard from Santa- he gets me. I’m sure my parents thought I would play with it for a few months and grow out of it and move on. Instead, it sparked my complete infatuation with music, and I was constantly playing it. Side-note: I received an ocarina this past Christmas from my boyfriend who is fully aware of my nerdiness and love of Zelda, and I have successfully driven both him and my roommate at Eastman absolutely nuts! So, if you think you can buy me a musical instrument and expect me to quickly grow bored, think again. ;)
 
Music has that effect on me. It’s intoxicating. It equally fulfills me and leaves me desiring more. And so I here I am, studying to receive my MA in Music Composition from Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. Within the next few months I will have decided on a school to pursue my Doctorate in Composition, and I am so eager to figure out where that will be! Wherever I end up, I will always compose. Writing music is how I express myself. After all, “where words fail, music speaks.”