Kevin Bishop
Executive Director of Cuatro Puntos
Kevin Bishop has a varied career as a violist, violinist, conductor, composer, educator and arts administrator He has conducted on some of the biggest stages in Europe the likes of the Zurich Tonhalle and for an audience of world leaders at the World Economic Forum. He has performed viola recitals at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, won international competitions, performed chamber music on four continents, lectured at universities across the USA and Europe, and been a distinguished presenter at international conferences. He has performed at the Grammy Awards, with the Foo Fighters, and with members of Led Zeppelin. He helped found New England’s only choir for those facing homelessness, and was founder and the first conductor of the CMEA All-State Elementary Honor Orchestra. He was previously Director of Orchestras at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul and at Müzikhane in Mardin, Turkey. As a composer his original compositions have been commissioned and played by chamber ensembles and orchestras from Europe to Australia. His compositions, viola performances, and orchestras under his baton are featured on over 10 albums released by Toccata Classics, Naxos, Metiér, and Arkadash Records. These recordings have earned rave reviews from international sources such as Fanfare Magazine, and some tracks have reached the top 6% of most streamed songs ever on Spotify, His work in the recording industry as a performer, composer, conductor and producer have earned him distinguished membership in the Recording Academy, where he shapes the future by voting on Grammy nominations. From shaking hands post-concert with top leaders from Iran to performing for Joe Biden and at the United Nations in Geneva, Kevin searches for ways to amplify the power of music to humanize and foster dialogue in difficult situations. Currently Kevin resides in the mountains of Northwest Connecticut with his cellist wife, children, and cat. He is Executive Director and a founding member of Cuatro Puntos and conductor of the New London Community Orchestra (nlcommunityorchestra.org)
"played with great intensity" - Fanfare Magazine review of Kevin Bishop's solo viola recording
EXPERIENCE THE MUSIC
- Hear Kevin play Sadie Harrison's "Allah Hu" for solo viola
- Watch Kevin conduct the Afghan Women's Orchestra "Zohra" in his own arrangement at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland
- Watch Kevin play John Hawkins "Urizen" for viola & piano
- Watch Kevin conduct the Cuatro Puntos Chamber Orchestra in Peace Prelude by Roksana Smirnova
- Listen to one of Kevin's original compositions: Stream of Hopelessness for bass clarinet & string quintet
MEDIA
- Read a Fanfare Magazine review of Kevin's solo viola performance and compositions
- Read about Kevin Bishop, Ameen Mokdad & Cuatro Puntos on NPR (2023)
- Read an article about Kevin and Cuatro Puntos on NPR (2015)
- Read about Kevin and the Afghanistan National Institute of Music (2016)
- Listen to Kevin on NPR (January 2016)
- Listen to Kevin on NPR (February 2017)
ORIGINAL COMPOSITIONS
COLLAPSE - symphony orchestra, 8 min, 2023 (commissioned and premiered by Alice Springs World Chamber Orchestra, Australia)
Bridges - string orchestra + guitar + carilon, 16 min, 2022 (commissioned by Christ Church Cathedral for centennial celebration)
The Childhood - clarinet + string quintet, 3 min, 2022
Breaking Point - bass clarinet + string quintet, 5 min, 2022
Just Be A Buddy - clarinet + string quintet, 3 min, 2022
Stigma - clarinet + string quintet, 3 min, 2022
Stream of Hopelessness - bass clarinet + string quintet, 5 min, 2022
Consuming Force - clarinet + string quintet, 5 min, 2022
Anxiety - solo viola, 6 min, 2021
Afghan Suite No 2 (3 movements) - string sextet + zerbagali, 12 min, 2019
Bridges - string orchestra + guitar + carilon, 16 min, 2022 (commissioned by Christ Church Cathedral for centennial celebration)
The Childhood - clarinet + string quintet, 3 min, 2022
Breaking Point - bass clarinet + string quintet, 5 min, 2022
Just Be A Buddy - clarinet + string quintet, 3 min, 2022
Stigma - clarinet + string quintet, 3 min, 2022
Stream of Hopelessness - bass clarinet + string quintet, 5 min, 2022
Consuming Force - clarinet + string quintet, 5 min, 2022
Anxiety - solo viola, 6 min, 2021
Afghan Suite No 2 (3 movements) - string sextet + zerbagali, 12 min, 2019
ALBUM DISCOGRAPHY
Sounds of the Silk Road - Arkadash Records 2024
performer - viola and dumbek; project co-producer
The Curve, Live from Hartford - Arkadash Records 2024
performer - viola; project co-producer
Unsilenced: Underground Music from Afghanistan - Arkadash Records 2024
co-producer (recording of musicians in hiding in Afghanistan post-Taliban takeover)
Ji bo sê kes çay (Tea for Three) - Arkadash Records 2023
performer - viola; project co-producer
Through The Eyes of Children - Arkadash Records, 2022
composer of 8 tracks; performer - viola; project co-producer
Sounds of Persia - Arkadash Records 2021
performer - viola; project co-producer
The Curve - Arkadash Records, 2020
performer - viola; project co-producer
Centennial Cole - Truth Revolution Records, 2019
performer - viola
Jaipur to Cairo - Métier Records, 2019
performer - viola; project co-producer
The Rosegarden of Light - Toccata Classics, 2016
performer - viola, violin; project co-producer
performer - viola and dumbek; project co-producer
The Curve, Live from Hartford - Arkadash Records 2024
performer - viola; project co-producer
Unsilenced: Underground Music from Afghanistan - Arkadash Records 2024
co-producer (recording of musicians in hiding in Afghanistan post-Taliban takeover)
Ji bo sê kes çay (Tea for Three) - Arkadash Records 2023
performer - viola; project co-producer
Through The Eyes of Children - Arkadash Records, 2022
composer of 8 tracks; performer - viola; project co-producer
Sounds of Persia - Arkadash Records 2021
performer - viola; project co-producer
The Curve - Arkadash Records, 2020
performer - viola; project co-producer
Centennial Cole - Truth Revolution Records, 2019
performer - viola
Jaipur to Cairo - Métier Records, 2019
performer - viola; project co-producer
The Rosegarden of Light - Toccata Classics, 2016
performer - viola, violin; project co-producer