Wednesday, May 7, 2025
As the resident ensemble at the heart of Divergent Studio, loadbang does far more than teach—they mentor, inspire, and create spaces where emerging artists can flourish. Their latest album, A Garden Adorned, beautifully illustrates this mission, particularly through the captivating piece >>liminal songs>>, composed by Longy alumna Christina George (MM ’23 Composition), who transitioned from student to creative collaborator.
Reflecting on her transformative experience at Longy, Christina credits Divergent Studio as pivotal to her artistic growth. “While my studies allowed me to deeply refine my compositional skills,” Christina shares, “it was Divergent Studio that truly shaped my artistic path. It provided me opportunities to build lasting relationships and collaborate closely with innovative artists like Andy Kozar.” Kozar, Longy’s Artistic Director, Chair of Instrumental Studies, and Co-director of Divergent Studio, also performs with loadbang.
Divergent Studio is Longy’s immersive annual summer program, designed specifically for composers and performers eager to explore new musical frontiers. Through intensive workshops, rehearsals, and live performances, students engage directly with forward-thinking faculty and artists. loadbang, consisting of baritone Ty Bouque, trumpeter Andy Kozar, trombonist William Lang, and bass clarinetist Adrián Sandí, forms the cornerstone of this experience—guiding participants step-by-step through the creation and performance of contemporary compositions.
Christina first encountered loadbang at Divergent Studio in 2022, marking a significant turning point. “I wrote a piece for the ensemble that I was particularly proud of,” she recalls. “Encouraged by one of the faculty members, I mentioned to Andy that I might expand it into multiple movements. His enthusiasm and support turned this casual idea into something far more ambitious than I had originally envisioned.”
“Christina wrote the first movement of what became this multi-movement piece for loadbang when she was a student at Longy’s Divergent Studio and we knew right away that there was something really special here, so we asked for more! After she wrote the next two movements, which we also loved, she then asked if she could write more, and of course we obliged. It’s a dream come true to have your students turn into colleagues and collaborators, and we feel so lucky to have >>liminal songs>> in our repertoire, and on our recent record.” says Andy Kozar on remembering his first encounter with Christina in Divergent Studio.
This initial spark blossomed into >>liminal songs>>, a richly textured work combining Christina’s evocative poetry with loadbang’s bold and exploratory musical style. “Most of the poetry already existed,” Christina notes, “but the first poem was written specifically for the music. Pairing the poems with different musical ideas became like conducting miniature experiments—each movement offering fresh discoveries. Returning to the work repeatedly felt like revisiting old friends, each time with deeper insights.”
On the album, >>liminal songs>> captivates listeners with its seamless fusion of spoken word and instrumental artistry, creating an immersive soundscape where poetry and music blend effortlessly. Featured prominently on A Garden Adorned, the piece exemplifies Christina George’s distinctive voice, elevated by loadbang’s imaginative interpretation and powerful performances, demonstrating vividly how Divergent Studio cultivates creative growth.
Liminal Songs: No. 1, “This Delicious Rain” by Christina George and performed by loadbang