The Fusion of Classical and Techno Music

What kind of music would Mozart write if he lived today?

More than 200 years have passed since Amadeus created his masterpieces, yet today, despite gargantuan technological advances, these classical treasures are performed time after time in the same way, exactly as they were written (which surely got old after first 100 years)…

So is there more than one way to perform classical music?

For Prof. Max Fomitchev – the producer of 9 albums and scores of chart-topping underground dance music singles, a subculture where he is known as UltraMax – music is as much about innovation as it is about style:

“If Bach was around today I am sure he would have used technology to bring out the best in his music,” says Fomitchev, “I can practically see him spinning records in clubs. To me it is simply unacceptable that the young generation is denied the enchanting beauty of classical music simply because it is served in a format that feels old and uninteresting. We are here to change it. Penn State Innovation Orchestra and Electric Light Quartet were created specifically to push the envelope of both classical and techno music. We are doing something that hasn’t been done before – morphing and fusing the scores of classics with each other and with our original music; getting the best of both worlds. While we may be gambling with some conservative feathers (e.g. there are purists that believe that classical music should not be mingled with), we are definitely on the right track. Currently Boston Pops, Philly Pops and Cincinnati Pops are looking into the possibility of joint performances and the recently deceased Maestro Erich Kunzel of Cincinnati Pops was a huge supporter and fan. The same can be said about Bob Woods of Telarc, the biggest record label for classical music that recently closed doors due to the lack of business. This is precisely what we are trying to change. We are striving to bring classical music to the next generation by performing your favorite classics – Bach, Beethoven, Vivaldi and more – remixed to a techno groove!”

Symphony in Trance 2.0 = Trans-Siberian Orchestra + Vanessa Mae

“We have been often compared to Trans-Siberian Orchestra, since they too perform classical music in a different setting, except that they fuse it with rock while we are doing it with techno. Vanessa Mae would be another close parallel, so is Japan’s crazy Yellow Music Orchestra. To get a feeling of what we do please watch the Symphony in Trance Trailer on YouTube”.

UltraMax & Penn State Innovation Orchestra are already building a strong following and have many people flying in to attend the performance:

“UltraMax’s last concert was fabulous! I definitely plan to attend” – Carole Pearce, D. Ed., CareerLink

“Man, I can’t wait!” – Michael Hendricks, Kansas City

“When I first heard about it, I was psyched beyond all reason. Practically drooling…” – Nathan Gillespie, Penn State senior

The Symphony in Trance Performers

Irina Gribova is a graduate of Moscow conservatory, a laureate of extremely prestigious "Voices of Russia" folk signing competition and a silver medalist of the European World of Bluegrass (EWOB) 2001 festival. Irina has a unique performing style and for prior to joining

 project she has been a lead singer for Countrybandists, Russian bluegrass and country music band and for Rivera group. In Symphony in Trance concert Irina will be performing with unforgettable Todd Hill and Natalia Orlovskaia, the stars of the original 2008 TechnoClassica concert.

Max Zorin is a violin virtuoso and an assistant professor (violin) at the Penn State School of Music. His dazzling performances thrilled audiences and critics across three continents, and his superb technique and engaging personality led him to rave reviews. Max Zorin has been featured in prestigious venues such as Alice Tully Hall in New York, Aspen Music Festival, Luzerne, Summit, Penns Woods and on various international radio and TV broadcasts. Recent highlights include solo appearances with celebrated artists such as Maxim Vengerov and jazz violinist Didier Lockwood. Notable performances abroad featured Max Zorin at the Tel Aviv University (Israel), the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory (Russia), and the Philharmonic Hall of Odessa (Ukraine).

Veronica Winters is an emerging visual artist and art instructor at the Pennsylvania Art Alliance and the resident at the Galaxy Arts-in-Education program. A master of colored pencil and oil painting and an author of instructional book on drawing Veronica will be providing background videos mixed live for the Symphony in Trance concert.