Thandiwe Shiphrah
Thandiwe Shiphrah is a poet and performer from Tennessee. Thandiwe creates low-cost, high-impact community arts programming for all ages, working in partnership with schools, libraries, non-profits, and community groups. In 2011 she was named a fellow at Jubilation Foundation. “Thandiwe Shiphrah is a powerful current of poetic energy,” writes Deirdre Meadows, for SpiritBeat Online Journal.

Daniel Arite

Daniel Arite is a composer/guitarist and arranger whose influences range from Gregorian chant to folk, rock, world, classical, free jazz and beyond.  Moving from swinging chaotic improvs to celestial meditations,  electro acoustic sounds and a unique approach to multi-tracking contribute to his style. His music has been featured in venues around the US, on public radio and also on PBS. His guitar arrangements of traditional music, jazz, and original compositions are lush with textures and colors that reveal the beauty and versatility of the instrument and range from driving polyrhythmic dances to mesmerizing romantic serenades.

John Savage

Flutist, saxophonist, and composer John C. Savage has been compared to Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Jean-Pierre Rampall, Herbie Mann, and Ian Anderson. Known equally as “a thoughtful and rigorous improviser,” and “a badass, knock-down-drag-out force to be reckoned with” (The Willamette Week), Savage lived in New York City for nearly a decade performing with, amongth others, The Savage 3, Billy Fox (The Uncle Wiggly Suite), the electroacoustic duo Cartridge, The Brooklyn Qawwali Party (eponymous release), and the Andrew Hill Big Band (A Beautiful Day). Savage continues to be a sought-after soloist and collaborator on both coasts working with a wide variety of artists, including the NYC-based Kitsurie Ensemble (The Kaidan Suite and Amanogawa), Point to Line (with flutist Lisa Bost-Sandberg), and Portland’s improvised woodwind and drum set group, Demolition Duo. Savage has received honors and awards from New York University, the Atlantic Center for the Arts, the Oregon Arts Commission, and the Portland-based Regional Arts and Culture Council. Savage also served on the board for Portland’s Creative Music from 2010-2013 as development coordinator. Savage holds a Ph.D from New York University in performance and improvisation. (http://www.johncsavage.com)

Claudia Savage

Claudia Savage is a poet residing in Portland Oregon. Her collection Take the Rain Into Your Mouth was a finalist for the New Issues Press Poetry Award in 2012. Claudia has been awarded residencies at Ucross, Jentel, and the Atlantic Center for the Arts. She published the chapbook, The Last One Eaten: A Maligned Vegetable’s History (Finishing Line Press), and has recent work in The Boulevard and CutBank. In 2012 she was a fellow at The Attic Institute.