“Art is the sacred TORCH that must shed its merciful light into all life’s terrible depths.”

-Thomas Mann

TORCH is a multi-arts collective of artists dedicated to the creation and performance of new socially conscious work. Embedded within the collective is a contemporary chamber music ensemble whose original compositions play with our heady intellects and our groove-craving souls. Rooted in contemporary classical, jazz, world, and improvised music, TORCH bridges the gaps between genres, re-imagines works from master composers, and demonstrates an indie-band model of self-composition. TORCH is in residence and affiliated with Common Tone Arts.

TORCH artists

  • ERIC LIKKEL, clarinets

  • BRIAN CHIN, trumpets

  • STEVE SCHERMER, double bass

  • BONNIE WHITING, percussion

ALBUMS

All albums are available to purchase through Common Tone Records and on our Bandcamp page.

EDUCATION

In addition to creating new music, engaging with social issues, and collaborating with artists from other media, part of the vision of the band is to reach out through education to inspire the next generation of creators. We have worked with students from a variety of programs, including music, dance, art, and sound engineering programs.

TORCH has three prepared workshops that have been widely acclaimed as inspirational and effective:

  1. Parametric Improvisation Techniques for Musicians of All Genres

  2. Collaborative Composition: Self-Generating Your Own Material

  3. Music as a Vehicle for Creating Socially-Conscious Art

Working with students from the University of Washington Dance Department

Excerpts from "Imperfect Map" January 26, 2018 University of Washington Meany Studio Theater

Composed by Ben Thomas

Choreography by Juliet McMains

TORCH: Brian Chin, trumpet; Eric Likkel; clarinet Steve Schermer, bass; Ben Thomas, vibes, bandoneon

Dancers: Emily Asplin, Gaby Bouzaglou, Becky Darrow, Katie Daugherty, Tess Hansen Jiaqi Kyki, Li Q McTighe, Madison Shorter, Brooke Thimmig, Dahlia Vu,

Video by Warren Woo

TESTIMONIALS

Juliet McMains
Professor, Department of Dance
University of Washington

"Collaborating with TORCH to create an original music/dance piece was a profoundly satisfying experience for me and the students involved. The musicians could readily adapt to the needs of the student dancers without compromising the quality of their music, which is innovative, challenging, and hauntingly beautiful. The musicians treated the students like peers, inspiring the students to reach towards the level of professionalism exhibited by the musicians with whom they shared a stage. I would work with them again in a heartbeat."

Keith Ward
University of Puget Sound
President of the College Music Society (2020)

"Torch’s performance at the University of Puget Sound was dazzling. We were treated to compelling performances of cutting-edge repertoire and arrangements of works by 20th-century masters. Bravo! It’s so important we have an ensemble like TORCH in the Pacific Northwest."