Tim Kiah, Visiting Artist

Tim Kiah is a vocalist, bassist, and composer. At a young age, he attended the Boston Boy Choir School, where he sang under the direction of Theodore Marier, performing with the likes of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Seiji Ozawa.

As an undergraduate at University of Rochester School of Nursing, Tim attended the Eastman School of Music where he earned a nickname for his storytelling, musical humor, and performance art. Nurse Kaya became the name of a large improvisation ensemble there. Upon moving to New York, he formed a string group with colleagues from Eastman and Juilliard called Nurse Kaya, carrying on the name in an effort to emphasize the healing nature of music. As part of the groups mission to bring new music to challenged audiences, the ensemble performed in hospitals, nursing homes, and prisons; and usually dressed in medical attire. In 2005, Nurse Kaya was awarded a grant from Chamber Music America to tour the Rocky Mountain region of Colorado where they performed concerts and conducted workshops for students and diverse audiences. The group was also featured on WNYC and ASCAP's Through the Walls concert. Members of the ensemble have recently formed a smaller formation of the group called Omega Trio. The group consists of violin, double bass, and cello, and performs original instrumental and vocal music ranging stylistically from the impressionistic to the accessible. Mr. Kiah is also a member of a quintet called Sotto Voce. The quintet,led by saxophonist and storyteller Roy Nathanson, has been aired on NPR and BBC radio, and tours extensivley throughout the United States and Europe. They have also worked with adolescent children in Paris and New York conducting concerts featuring original music and poetry of the students and the ensemble. They will continue this work in collaboration with the London Jazz Festival this spring. As a teacher, Mr. Kiah is known as Mr. Tim, and his bass is known as Peggy.

Mr. Kiah obtained an MFA in Music from City College, where he studied composition with David Del Tredichi and George Tsontakis; as well as the double bass with Ron Carter. In 2003, he was commissioned by La Mama Theatre for a music, dance, and multi media production of Homer's Odyssey. He has performed and recorded with Joan LaBarbara, Debby Harry, and Lenny Kavitz. He currently resides in Brooklyn, and is an avid fan of sports radio commentary.

His piece, Rise from the Ashes was premiered by the Chelsea Symphony Orchestra on October 31, 2009 in New York City.