User:Peterbufano/sandbox

Cirkestra is a musical group which formed in 2004 by composer and accordionist Peter Bufano. The group is known as a circus band that has also performed apart from circuses.

Formation, Circus Smirkus
In late 2003 Circus Smirkus creative directors Jeff Jenkins and Julie Greenberg ran into Peter Bufano in New York City who was was performing in Bindlestiff Family Cirkus at The Palace of Variety. This led to Bufano's employment as composer/bandleader for Circus Smirkus. Bufano assembled Cirkestra for this tour from local Boston musicians. Cirkestra accompanied Smirkus' production "Alice in Wonderland"for all 70 performances with Bufano on Keyboard and Accordion, Kaethe Hostetter on violin and trombone, Michael Tuttle on string bass, and Rob Rudin on Drums.

Discography

 * 1) Cirkestra (2004)
 * 2) Alice (2005)
 * 3) The Adventures of Pinocchio (2006)
 * 4) Swing (2009)
 * 5) The Hairless Woman (2011)
 * 6) Circus Dreams (2011)

Members
Principal Members (listed in chronological order) Peter Bufano: Bandleader, Accordion, Piano, Guitar. (2004-present) Kaethe Hostetter: Violin, Viola, Trombone. (2004-2010) Michael Tuttle: String Bass. (2004-2005) Rob Rudin: Drums, Percussion. (2004) Arvin Zarookian: String Bass. (2006) Mike Dobson: Drums, Mallets, Percussion. (2006-2012) Sammy Lett: Saxophones, Clarinet, Flute, Harmonica (2006-2014) Elisabeth Craft: Violin (2010-present) Loubins Richard: Tuba (2011) Grantley Smith: Drums, Percussion. (2011-present) Jim Gray (2011-2013) Niki Mariskanish (2011-2013)

Additional Musicians (appearing on certain recordings, performances, or for a short period of time with the group)

Sky Waggoner, Ricardo Frota, Rick Landwehr, Daniel Heath, Jack Freeman, Jessica Matson, Tamora Gooding (2005-2006), Ari Folman-Cohen, Laura Kandiolka (2005), Bill Whitney (2010), Mike Milnarik (2009), Katherine Growden (2010), Erik James (2009), Sam Dechenne (2012), Yaeko Miranda Elmaleh (2013), Robin Ryzik, Joe Correia (2013), David Aquillina (2012), Michael McLaughlin, I-Yun Chung,

TV and Film
The group recorded the score for ' "Circus Dreams"'' (2011) for which Peter Bufano won an ASCAP "Plus Award". The music was a mix of previously existing Cirkestra songs and new original material composed by bufano for the film.