In a distinctive fusion of scientific rigor and musical artistry, an octet of Caltech scientists is preparing to unveil their debut album “Consona” through two November concerts in Pasadena.
The eight-member ensemble OcTech, founded in 2021 by biochemist Kate Radford, demonstrates how their laboratory precision enhances rather than inhibits their interpretation of classical compositions spanning four centuries.
“Some of the ways that being scientists has kind of influenced how we produce music, is that it makes us very detail-oriented, but also very exploratory,” Radford explained.
The group’s repertoire stretches from Renaissance composers William Byrd and Raffaella Aleotti to contemporary works by Arvo Pärt and Caroline Shaw, showcasing their technical and artistic range.
Their musical experimentation includes original compositions, featuring Noah Epstein’s arrangement of “Danny Boy” and Radford’s adaptation of nuclear waste warning messages from Sandia National Labs.
“The Sandia National Labs warning itself is kind of a piece of art, and the text, of course, is very ominous,” Radford noted. “It kind of participates in the same artistic tradition.”
The ensemble has evolved into a tightly coordinated musical unit since its founding, maintaining a strict eight-member format while offering regular series including “Motets Through the Ages,” “Earth From Earth,” and “Winter’s Night.”
“We’re kind of like an organism at this point. It’s really cool,” Radford noted, describing the group’s collaborative dynamic that mirrors their scientific training.
Beyond performance, OcTech has demonstrated community impact through benefit concerts that have generated thousands of dollars for global causes, said a Caltech statement.
“The most important thing about this album is that in 30 years, we can find it in our attic and put it into whatever music player we have and cry a little bit about something beautiful that we made once,” Radford said.
The ensemble will perform at 7 p.m. on Nov. 21 at Parson’s Nose Theater, located at 95 N. Marengo Ave., and at 7 p.m. Nov. 24 at Caltech’s Morgan Library in Kerckhoff, 2nd floor.
The Parson’s Nose performance requires tickets at $20 for general admission and $10 for students. At Caltech, the performance is free admission to the public.
The group will also present their Stellata Christmas show at 7 p.m. on Dec. 15 at Morgan Library.
To learn more about Caltech’s OcTech, visit https://octech.clubs.caltech.
