Faculty Spotlight: Jacqueline Ultan
In conversation about collaboration, community, and 8 Feet from the Stars
For more than 25 years, Jacqueline Ultan has shaped the MacPhail community as both a teaching artist and a performing cellist. She is also a member of the Laurels String Quartet, a group known for its collaborations with Twin Cities singer-songwriters across a wide range of styles. Ahead of the quartet’s upcoming MacPhail Presents concert, 8 Feet from the Stars, Ultan reflects on the inspiration behind the program, the collaborative process, and what she hopes audiences take away from the evening.
Q: You’ve been part of the MacPhail community for a long time. How does your work as a faculty member connect to your work as a performer?
A: I’ve been teaching at MacPhail for 25 years, while also maintaining an active performing career. I’ve had the great pleasure of collaborating with many of MacPhail’s teaching artists over the years, which has contributed to my reach in the greater twin cities community of world class artists. As a member of the Laurels String Quartet, I have also gained a unique position amongst our cities most celebrated singer/songwriters who represent a wide range of musical genres.
Q: Who is the Laurels String Quartet, and what kinds of projects do you focus on?
A: The Laurels String Quartet is a highly skilled, genre-fluid ensemble rooted in the Twin Cities. Known for their professionalism, collaborative spirit, and creativity, LSQ supports a wide range of artists looking to add depth and resonance to their work. We are a very collaborative group—supportive, professional, yet casual at the same time. Our goal is to make great music and engage with our fellow artists and audiences in a meaningful way.
Q: Where did the title 8 Feet from the Stars come from?
A: The show title is inspired by the documentary 6 Feet from Stardom, which is about the backup singers to the stars—the people who are just a little bit out of the spotlight but are essential to the music. Our title is also a play on numbers, because we are a quartet, so there are eight feet between us.
Q: Who are the artists you’ll be collaborating with in this concert?
A: We are so excited and honored to be performing with Aby Wolf, Adam Levy, Annie Humphrey, Barbara Cohen, Chan Poling, Chastity Brown, Dylan Hick, and John Munson.
What a crew! Each of these artists has established themselves as unique and important voices in our community. I love them as people first and foremost. But they are undeniably, incredible musicians, with a generosity of spirit toward the goal of making great music in a meaningful collaboration.
Q: How does this concert reflect the Twin Cities music community, and what do you hope audiences take away?
A: I have found the Twin Cities to be an incredibly open-minded and diverse music scene, where people are interested in exploring and challenging their ideas about music and collaboration. This concert will be a great representation that.
I’m hoping that the audience comes away from this performance inspired, moved, fortified and soothed, with a sense of togetherness and community.
MacPhail Presents
8 Feet from the Stars: A Celebration of Songwriting
Antonello Hall at MacPhail Center for Music
February 21, 7:00 pm
macphail.org/events