ABOUT US

The Black Rock Philharmonic is a group of amateur and professional musicians from different camps all over the Playa that bring classical music and more to the Burning Man community.

Something new and rewarding on the Playa can come from something old and classic. The Black Rock Philharmonic musically fulfills that adage and is happy to share it with fellow Burners. We try to provide the Burning Man community with inspiring, relaxing, and memorable concerts that are engaging and ultimately, participatory (because: Burning Man–don’t just be a spectator!). Together with our audiences, we try to offer something unique from the electronic, amplified, bass-thumping fare that is now common on the Playa these days (and then we go dancing all night long as well, lol).

The Black Rock Philharmonic is formed around a nucleus of a brain trust that guides the efforts of this dynamic, self-governing ensemble. We think it offers its members and audiences a different participatory presence to the Burning Man community. We present classical music in a place and in ways that up end and keep alive the traditional repertoire of the classical orchestra in new and unusual–and participatory–ways. Through a collaborative model, we try to provide inspiring concerts of music, both old and new.

2018 was our first official year, though many of us have performed in various bands, performances, groups since the beginnings of Burning Man. In 2018, a group of us decided to go forth and present a different take on live classical music on the Playa and that brought about the Black Rock Philharmonic. We have been fortunate to have more and more people (in 2022, over 100 sign ups and 88 performers on stage at our largest concert) join us in this experience.

—Erin Wyner (Baby Giraffe), Communications and Treasurer, is the section lead for the flute section, running around like crazy trying to figure out swag, or guarding Center Camp. She has been playing and volunteering in orchestras on Playa since 2016, when she first found my Burning Man community.

Erin is the point person for the BRP and its  connection with Arts And Culture El Dorado, and swag extraordinaire. When she is not planning, thinking, or stressing about Burning Man you can find her painting watercolor, sewing vintage inspired clothes, playing with my puppies, trying not to kill her plants, and baking Carmel Apple pie bars…

— Shelly Crouse-Monarez, Concertmaster, performs and teaches in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has a passion for classical, jazz, and folk music from around the world as well as composing and performing for live theatre and dance. Shelly also enjoys using her concert and recording experience to inspire musicians to tell compelling and beautiful stories.

Formerly, concert master of OPC Orchestra, she has performed with the Community Women’s Orchestra where she coached the junior ensemble. Shelly has guest performed with the Castro Valley Chamber Orchestra, and the Kensington Symphony. Internationally she has performed in festivals with the Ukrainian State Academic Orchestra and the Pleven State Philharmonic.

She is best known as the World Famous Fiddling Tannenbaum at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair.

— Eric Yttri (Maestro, Dr FireTuba), Music Director, is the director of the Black Rock Philharmonic and previously led the Playa Pops Symphony since its inception as the first classical music ensemble at Burning Man a decade ago. For the past 7 years he has been a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, in Pittsburgh, PA. Previously, we was director at Washington University in St Louis.

Eric delights in bringing the joy of ‘classical’ music to the varied tastes and talents of  playa, creating an inclusive community for expression and exploration of art that has remained poignant even after several centuries. When not conducting, plays one of the two fire tubas at Burning Man and delves into his love of neuroscience.

—Alex and Jay: Webmasters
—Photos: with thanks to many, but particularly, Josh and many others