We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Pique Collective. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Pique Collective below.

Alright, Pique Collective thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

One of the most meaningful projects that we ever worked on was the production and presentation of an event titled, “Today I Welcome You, Tomorrow I Welcome You.” The event was held at 2640 Space in November of 2018 and realized many of the artistic goals that we have as an ensemble. The event featured musical, visual, poetic, and culinary art centered around the theme of challenges faced by migrants around the world. The guitarist in Pique Collective, Jeremy Lyons, set music to the poetry of his friend, Lucas Chib. Each poem focused on aspects of migration and the realities of life in transit and without a permanent home. On display prior to the musical performance was a photography series by the Brazilian artist, Camila Gomide. Her series featured headshots of migrants and an account of a single object which reminds them of home. Audience members were also treated to food prepared by the Mera Kitchen Collective – an organization that empowers migrants through food entrepreneurship.

This kind of event is what Pique loves to create: serious, authentic presentations of art, united by a common theme, for an audience of all ages and backgrounds.

Pique Collective, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Pique Collective came together in 2017 when friends decided to share their love of contemporary music by producing events that aim to reach a broad audience. The current group is a quintet including Lisa Perry (soprano/piano), Stephanie Ray (flutes), Nonoka Mizukami (percussion), Jeremy Lyons (guitars), and Peter Kibbe (cello). All five members studied at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore. We use our classical training to present contemporary sounds through original composition, transcriptions of existing works, performances of new pieces, and improvisation. We also collaborate regularly with other musicians, poets, writers, painters, sculptors, dancers, actors, puppeteers, and entrepreneurs. These collaborations often yield multi-media experiences for audience members looking to enjoy a unique show; Pique currently performs in venues across Baltimore and continues building relationships with other artistic community members.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

We are musicians who prioritize the performance of contemporary music. That means we write our music, perform new works by other composers, and transcribe existing works to fit our idiom. We also collaborate with all kinds of musicians to reflect today’s various sounds. We specialize in live performance events, but we also do some recording and produce online and digital content by ourselves and through collaborations with other institutions. We are known for our unique instrumentation (soprano, piano, flute, percussion, guitar, cello) and our versatility as musicians. We are proud of our commitment to our audience (we always give our best). What sets us apart from others is that we treat all our collaborations and opportunities with the same professionalism and seriousness, no matter the circumstances.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of any artistic endeavor is the opportunity to share something that you believe in with other people. No matter how many people attend our shows (we’ve played for hundreds and for fewer than ten), at least one person has always come up to us afterwards to express their appreciation. That is what we love the most: somebody experienced our presentation and was pleased to have witnessed its effect on them.

Contact Info:

• Website: piquecollective.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/piquecollective
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/piquecollective
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxHQeEmVfW-H0Vp6tomDCYA

Image Credits
Tobias Morris Edwin Huet