Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM
2220 Arts + Archives, Los Angeles
**Black Editions Presents** world renowned composer, performer, sound artist and experimental vocalist **Joan La Barbara** in performance with master harpist, composer and sound installation artist **Shelley Burgon**. This evening is the fourth of four performances in Shelley's 2025-26 residency at 2220 Arts. One of the world's most influential experimental vocalists, US-based icon J**oan La Barbara** is a pioneer of "extended" technique, having developed her own language of wordless vocalizations and multiphonic tones. She's received countless awards over the years, and has composed for various ensembles, presenting her work at venues across the world, from Warsaw to Brisbane. And La Barbara has worked with some of America's finest avant-garde free-thinkers, including Robert Ashley, Steve Reich, John Cage, Morton Subotnick, Merce Cunningham, Matthew Barney and Philip Glass, blessing each project with her unique vocabulary of sounds. **Shelley Burgon** is a harpist, composer and sound installation artist who creates ambient and abstract music using graphic notation, indeterminacy, electronics and sound sculptures. She studied extensively with Oliveros at Mills College where she received an MFA in Electronic Music. Shelley’s chamber music has been recorded by the Ne(x)tworks ensemble featuring the vocalist Joan LaBarbara. Her most recent work The In Between for solo harp was released by Thin Wrist Recordings in July 2025. Shelley’s music has been commissioned for film, chamber ensembles and choreographers, ost notably by The Merce Cunningham Dance Company for their Hudson Valley Project at the Dia Beacon. As an ensemble member, Shelley is sought after for her vast experience as an interpreter of new-music and the classical avant-garde performing the works of Pauline Oliveros, John Cage, Butch Morris, Morton Subotnick, Cornelius Cardew and most recently performing with the Long Beach Opera and Wild Up. She has performed at institutions such as the Whitney Museum, MoMA, Walt Disney Concert Hall and Lincoln Center and has recorded harp for various artists ranging from Bjork to Anthony Braxton. She has recently released a duo record with the guitarist Fred Frith.