Rova:Arts

Founded in 1977, and funded by the Hewlett Foundation since 1987, Rova:Arts is a saxophone quartet dedicated to extending the leading edge of musical expression and improvised music with influences ranging from jazz to 21st century new music. Comprised of the same musicians who’ve been with the group since its creation, Rova presents a mix of 10-12 Bay Area concerts in each of the grant year ranging from performances to 800 people at the SF Jazz Festival to 30 people at venues like The Marsh and San Francisco Live Arts/Noe Valley Ministry (both Hewlett grantees). The group, which operates on an annual budget of $200,000, tours internationally and produces a new album every other year usually selling 500-2,000 copies. The group presents its own work but also collaborates with artists ranging from the Kronos Quartet to Fred Frith in its Improv: 21 series that creates a forum to discuss and demonstrate diverse approaches to musical improvisation. Rova’s continued existence and its regular performances contribute to enhancing the strategic objective to increase opportunities for diverse cultural expression. The music Rova makes is challenging. It requires careful listening and tolerance on the part of audiences to consider not only what kind of music saxophones can make but how artists from one discipline influence one another. Ongoing support Rova gives life to art forms that exist at the margins of contemporary culture.