Bassist

PSO AllStars@Home with Tessa Lark and Michael Thurber

See a Number from GODDESS

Join us as we close the 2026 Laguna Beach Music Festival with the virtuosity, playfulness, and infectious curiosity of violinist Tessa Lark and bassist Michael Thurber.

Concert #3: Tessa Lark & Michael Thurber

The Laguna Playhouse

By blending their classical training with American music influences, Artistic Directors Tessa Lark and Michael Thurber have created a wholly original sound that promises a unique musical experience for the second evening of the Laguna Beach Music Festival.

Concert #2: Tessa Lark & Michael Thurber

Join us for Opening Night of the 2026 Laguna Beach Music Festival with Festival Artistic Directors Tessa Lark and Michael Thurber! From bluegrass and jazz to Bach, there’s no musical boundary this dynamic duo can’t cross. Don’t miss an evening of thrilling, genre-defying performances that showcase the versatility and artistry of two of today’s most exciting musicians!

Concert #1: Tessa Lark & Michael Thurber

UW Music welcomes Eminent Artist-in-Residence Michael Thurber and Friends from October 29 through November 1 for a series of free, public events.

EPSG:4326

Michael Thurber & Friends

University of Wyoming

Grammy-nominated violinist Tessa Lark and virtuoso composer/bassist Michael Thurber team up in a phenomenal program spanning Bach to bluegrass. The classically trained duo brilliantly bring together their bluegrass roots (Tessa) and jazz composition roots (Michael) for a unique blend of classical, folk and original music, including Bach’s Inventions arranged for violin and bass.

Bach Meets Bluegrass: Tessa Lark & Michael Thurber

Irvine Barclay Theatre

Part of Distinctive Experiences co-presented with Philharmonic Society of Orange County

Bach Meets Bluegrass: Tessa Lark and Michael Thurber

Join us for an unforgettable evening at the Monterey Symphony's unique concert series, "On Stage with Tessa Lark & Michael Thurber," on May 13, 2024. This special event takes place at the prestigious Sunset Center, located at San Carlos Ave & 9th Ave, Carmel, offering an intimate experience where guests are seated on stage alongside the musicians.

The evening begins at 5:30 PM with a welcoming reception, followed by a recital at 6:30 PM featuring tracks from Tessa Lark and Michael Thurber's recent album, "Inventions." The night concludes with a dessert session at 7:30 PM, allowing guests to mingle and reflect on the performance.

This concert is part of the Monterey Symphony's 2023-2024 season and is proudly sponsored by The Martin R. Wolf Family Fund. It promises to be a memorable night of food, wine, and exquisite music, with premium seating available for $300 and regular seating for $250.

Don't miss this opportunity to experience music up close with two of the most dynamic performers of our time, in the beautiful setting of Carmel's Sunset Center.

On Stage with Tessa Lark + Michael Thurber

Sunset Center

Back by popular demand, the inimitable violinist Tessa Lark returns to our stage with bassist/composer Michael Thurber and jazz harpist/composer Charles Overton to present a fusion of musical styles, from bluegrass to jazz to classical to originals.

Lark & Thurber with Charles Overton

Sedona Performing Arts Center

Join us for a serene and soulful experience at Caramoor's Sunken Garden on Saturday, July 1, 2023, at 11:00 am for "Music & Meditation in the Garden." This unique event features the exceptional talents of violinist Tessa Lark and double bassist Michael Thurber, who will blend their bluegrass and jazz backgrounds to create a meditative soundscape. The program begins with a guided meditation by Jennifer Llewellyn of Majestic Hudson, Katonah, setting the stage for a mindful listening experience of both music and nature.

Tessa Lark, a Grammy-nominated artist known for her captivating performances and Michael Thurber, a versatile musician whose career spans across various genres, come together to perform live music that promises to transport the audience to a state of tranquility and inspiration. This event is a perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the beauty of classical music while enjoying the peaceful surroundings of Caramoor’s lush gardens.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own seating for this outdoor performance. Additionally, there is an option to join the Bedford Riding Lanes Association (BRLA) for a gentle pre-event hike starting at 10:00 am, offering a complete morning of relaxation and rejuvenation.

Don't miss this harmonious blend of music, meditation, and nature at Caramoor. For more information about the artists and to purchase tickets, please visit Caramoor's website.

Tessa Lark, violin Michael Thurber, double bass

Sunken Garden

Berkeley Rep presents the world premiere of an exuberant new musical by award-winning playwright Jocelyn Bioh School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play and composer Michael Thurber, conceived by director Saheem Ali. A young man returns home to Mombasa, Kenya to marry his fiancée and step into his family’s political dynasty. But when he visits Moto Moto—a steamy afro-jazz club and the stomping ground of his youth—he finds himself drawn to a mysterious new singer. Inspired by the myth of Marimba, who created beautiful songs from her heartbreak, Goddess is a joyful infusion of contemporary romance, ancient magic, and the irresistible vibes of African, jazz, and R&B music.

Goddess

Peet's Theatre

Bassist Michael Thurber (Royal Shakespeare Company, Late Show with Stephen Colbert) and violinist Tessa Lark (Winner, 2008 Klein Competition, Naumburg and Indianapolis Violin Competitions, Avery Fisher Career Grant) perform the World Premiere of Thurber's Double Concerto for Violin and Bass in a sparkling all-American evening of music by star-caliber American masters - Bernstein, Gershwin, Grofé, and the great African-American composer Florence Price.

ALL-AMERICAN PROGRAM

Heritage Theatre

San Mateo High School

Award-winning violinist Tessa Lark and virtuoso composer/ bassist Michael Thurber met years ago as alumni of NPR’s “From the Top” and quickly realized how much they had musically in common. In 2016, they began developing their duo collaboration after a one-off performance at an event for WQXR in New York City. By fusing classical and American music influences, they created a wholly original sound that they now bring to audiences around the country in a charismatic live show. Lark and Thurber will perform an intimate concert in the cabaret-style environment of the PAC Pavilion.

TESSA LARK & MICHAEL THURBER

PAC Pavilion

Mandolin virtuoso and Festival Artistic Director Chris Thile closes out the 20th anniversary of the Laguna Beach Music Festival with a unique musical experience featuring vocalist and flutist Nathalie Joachim, award-winning violinist Tessa Lark, and virtuoso bassist Michael Thurber.  This program will begin with selections from Nathalie Joachim’s Fanm d’Ayiti (Women of Haiti), an evening-length work for voice, flute, string quartet and electronics. Fanm d’Ayiti is a celebration of some of Haiti’s most iconic yet under recognized female artists, as well as an exploration of Joachim’s Haitian heritage. The project features original songs incorporating the recorded voices of Joachim’s grandmother and the girls choir of her family’s home farming village of Dantan; new arrangements of songs by some of the greatest known female voices in Haitian history; and recorded interviews with these artists about their lives fighting for social justice and uplifting the people of Haiti.  The second half of the program will feature Tessa Lark, violin and Michael Thurber, double bass, with music from their new album Invention. Invention explores the Two-Part Inventions of J.S. Bach which illuminate the full expressive possibility for two musical voices. In the spirit of these Inventions, Lark and Thurber have 'invented' their own set of duos which will be performed alongside Bach’s works. Just as Bach's Inventions are explorations in counterpoint, these duos explore the full range of what is possible for their specific two voices: violin and bass.

Bassist

Michael Thurber

Events

Past events

Feb 15, 2026

Concert #3: Tessa Lark & Michael Thurber · Philharmonic Society of Orange County

Feb 14, 2026

Concert #2: Tessa Lark & Michael Thurber · Philharmonic Society of Orange County

About

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