About the Quartet
KEN KOZORA
Ken brings a wide musical perspective to his performances and compositions on an array of electronic and acoustic instruments and has collaborated with an extensive list of local and international musicians, dance companies, filmmakers and a wide variety of visual and media artists. His commissioned music and his solo live composed and improvised soundscapes have been featured in award winning films, dance works, festivals, art gallery and museum installations and events, kids events, book signings, architectural openings, and many other site specific and special occasions including Art Prize, Dlectricity, Ann Arbor Film Festival, Alden B. Dow Museum, Ann Arbor Hands On Museum, Awareness Film Fest - Los Angeles, Global Water Dances, Detroit City Dance Festival and 555 Gallery to name a few. While reflecting and retaining an original and unique esthetic, Ken’s music elicits an experience that resonates, enhances and delights audiences of all ages. His diversified resume history includes: electronic music faculty - Washtenaw Community College, Development staff member - Ecology Center, music technology consultant/sales - Inkwell Technologies (Nalli Music). Currently he teaches private trumpet/drum students, is Co-Director/facilitator for special needs KO Camps – Oz Music and his growing reputation as a visual artist has garnered commissions, premiering his artwork at A2 Hands on Museum 2019. He founded Horns For The Holidays in 1996 a grassroots instrument collection/repair/recycling program, re-distributing close to 900 instruments in Washtenaw County and beyond for kids who can’t afford their own. Google Ken Kozora for more info.
PAUL VORNHAGEN
Winner of six Detroit Music-Awards as an instrumentalist, bandleader and recording artist, Paul’s music has been featured on all the major NPR programs for over 3 decades. He is known for his warm and expansive reeds, flute and ocarina tone, silky smooth vocals and engaging stage presence. As a soloist, he has toured California, England, Hawaii, Cuba, Virgin Islands, Chicago, NYC, France to name a few. Paul resides in Ann Arbor and is a respected private teacher. His extensive discography of recordings and ensemble work can be found at: paulvornhagenjazz.com
ROBERT SPALDING NEWCOMB
Robert Spalding Newcomb (1954 - ), composer, musician, theorist, is a native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, specializing in algorithmic composition and improvisation on nylon string MIDI guitar, sitar, drum pad and electronics. He has produced and published 11 albums of original music, 9 as solo artist (1986-2018). His computer music compositions have been featured at electronic/computer music festivals internationally (1993-1999). His compositional theories and the design of his unique music software were published in the Cambridge University Press (UK) journal, 'Organised Sound' (1998). Robert and University of Michigan (U-M) Professor Stephen Rush were guests of the US Embassy in India for a four-city concert tour and music history instruction workshop at the Nirman NGO in Varanasi (2005). Robert has received an Emmy for his role as Sitar Soloist in James Aikman’s ‘Peacemakers’ oratorio with the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra as part of the award winning PBS documentary of the premiere (2016). From 2012-2014 he produced several solo and ensemble Solstice Concerts, Summer (U-M Matthaei Botanical Gardens) and Winter (Kerrytown Concert House). From 2018-2020 he produced the Media & Studio Arts Symposium at the Duderstadt Center. Robert recently capped a 27 year career at U-M as Associate Director of Media & Studio Arts at the Digital Media Commons in the Duderstadt Center (2013-2022), managing the budget, administration, production and technical infrastructure of the professional audio and video studios supporting student and faculty productions. In June 2025 one of his newest compositions was premiered as part of the New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival.
Robert is also a certified yoga instructor with 13 years of teaching experience in Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Website: partialmusic.com
Our Drummers
JOHN CHURCHVILLE
John is a Grammy Award winning tabla player now living in Ann Arbor, Michigan. John got his start in music in Marquette, Michigan. From there he moved to California to attend the esteemed California Institute of the Arts where he earned a degree in World Music Performance and began a decades long journey with the Indian tabla drums. Moving to Ann Arbor in 2006, John forged a unique path in both the music scene and in music education. At the same time, John was also recording, performing and developing his unique style of tabla drumming with the award winning Indian fusion group, Sumkali. johnchurchville.com
ENRIQUE "KITO" PARDO
Growing up in a talented musical family, Enrique's father was a part-time singer/ guitar player with various Mexican bands, and his parents and older siblings exposed him to a wealth of music as a child, all of which greatly influenced his musical tastes and interests for Jazz, Latin, Funk and Fusion and are foundational in his rhythmic approach as well as his life-style. Mostly self-taught, he had opportunities to study under Charles Bannister, Bert Myrick and an occasional lesson under rhythm master Roy Brooks. Bands include INO/UNO, Bill Meyer-Soneo, Lady Sunshine and the X Band, Alina Morr-Urban Tropical, Brothers From Another Planet, Expedition. Kito has amassed a number of Metrotimes music awards including: Best New Jazz band and Best Jazz Album and was also honored to be nominated for “Best Jazz Drummer/Percussionist five years in a row.
CONTACT US
For booking or questions, email Ken Kozora: zenkora@gmail.com