By Lookout Staff

May 13, 2026 -- The Soundwaves new music series will hold a concert next Tuesday featuring Vicki Ray and koven4tet at the Westside Music Conservatory just outside Santa Monica's border.

The series -- which provides "a westside space for underground sounds" -- was based at the Santa Monica Public Library from 2016 to 2024.

The unique series "draws on LA's history of musical innovation to develop creative and collaborative programs," event organizers said.

Pianist Vicki Ray was a founding core artist of Piano Spheres and recently retired as Chair of the keyboard department at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts).

"She continues to perform solo, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and with improvisers including Vinny Golia, Steuart Liebig, and Ellen Burr."

She will present pieces from the Rilke Project, a collection of works by various composers inspired by the poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke.

koven4tet is led by video artist Carole Kim, "who has frequently collaborated with improvising musicians and has begun to include sound-making in her own practice."

She is joined by saxophonist M. A. Tiesenga from WildUp, Korean reed player gamin from the Silk Road Ensemble, and koto player Kozue Matsumoto, "who can be heard on many film and video game scores," organizers said.

"Their improvised performance will include digital video created by Kim, which is programmed to respond to their sounds."

A $20 donation is requested. For more information visit soundwavesnewmusic.com