Today we’d like to introduce you to McKenna Glorioso.
Hi McKenna, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I (McKenna) founded Ensemble Mercury back in 2018 while I was a student at the Cleveland Institute of Music, as an avenue to perform with friends and get our names out into the community. Over the past seven years it has grown into a full-fledged string ensemble that performs all across Northeast Ohio (and beyond!) for weddings, galas, private events, and public concerts.
Our musicians are alumni of the Cleveland Institute of Music, and when not playing together as a group, we are actively performing throughout the Midwest region and hold reputable teaching studios. Not only do we love what we do, but we’re passionate about Cleveland, organize and participate in the local arts scene, and enjoy collaborating with folks across all disciplines.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
One of my biggest priorities is providing fair work to my musicians: work that pays well, is in conditions where the music can thrive, and is rewarding. There was absolutely some trial and error over the past several years in learning to communicate with clients and audiences about how we can best make this happen. Most prominently, the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic come to mind. Live music was put on hold completely and, seemingly, indefinitely. In a time where very few musicians had work to sustain them, I desperately wanted to provide work for musicians but didn’t know how. We found some workarounds during these days by putting on outdoor, masked porch concerts, participating in virtual collaborations, and making recordings.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
The main word that comes to mind when I think of Ensemble Mercury is versatility. Our musicians are known for being multifaceted artists that perform in a wide variety of settings, are creative and adaptable, and always up for a challenge. Our members play in local bands, compose and arrange original works, are excellent teachers, and care deeply about the Cleveland community. Some of our recent/current projects that stand out are…
– Celestia, an immersive concert experience in collaboration with the local musician Wish Queen, that centered around our connection to outer space. This concert took place Summer 2024 but we are planning another one for the upcoming winter. Stay tuned!
– Our performance at Cleveland Uncommon Sounds Project last year, where one of our musicians (Ellie Glorioso, cello) composed two works that were part improvisation, part pedal effects. One of the works, “Weft and Warp,” was a musical imitation of the two components of weaving textiles, and the other featured haunting harmonics and effects inspired by Kitch-iti-kipi, the largest freshwater spring in Michigan where Ellie has spent a fair amount of time. We collaborated with local animator Sally Francis on mesmerizing visuals for both pieces.
– Recently we played for one of the private events for Takashi Murakami’s exhibit “Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow” at the Cleveland Museum of Art. We put together original arrangements of anime and movie music to set the scene against the Yumedono/Dream Hall in the center of the exhibit.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Please reach out via our website, email, or social media if you are interested in hiring our ensemble or a private/public event or collaborating with us. We are always open to new ideas and especially love concerts or collaborations that break outside the traditional classical music mold. We love playing new or original music, writing custom arrangements, playing in a new format or setting, and interacting with our audiences. Plus, follow our social media for updates on upcoming events!
Pricing:
- Our formal pricing structure is per musician, per hour. If clients are worried about budget they can always hire a smaller ensemble such as a duo or trio
- Our public concerts are generally donation-based or pay what you can
- If pricing is an issue, reach out and we’ll work with you!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ensemblemercurycle.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ensemblemercurycle/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ensemblemercurycle
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ensemble-mercury/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@EnsembleMercuryCleveland
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/ensemble-mercury-cle
- Other: https://www.gigsalad.com/ensemble_mercury_cleveland
