Yael KAT Acher- Modiano

Biography

Reviews:
“[A] unique phenomenon on a number of accounts…realizing [Bach] in terms of what the flute does best…greater flexibility and fluency of Kat’s flute… Kat’s solo flute pieces…track the poet’s thoughts as perfect correlative, in beautiful sine curves of sound that enrapture and illuminate our minds.” By Phil’s Review, Atlanta Audio Club

"[A] flutist who isn't about faking the funk… hard-edged Junk Kat Modiano ensemble is run from the kick drum."- Time Out, New York City.

“Especially original and convincing.” - JAZZ Magazine, France.

“[A] mind bending proponent of modern soundscapes. Her approach is flawless, sensitive, and puts the listener in the middle of unique and often visual experiences… her cinematographic sensibility on this album. She swings and covers a lot of territory here. Her sense of phrasing is superb.“- Cadence Magazine, USA

I am a multi-genres flutist, composer, and educator based in New York City.
I hold a BA degree in Classical Flute Performing Arts from the Rubin Academy in Jerusalem, where I studied also Jazz and Electronic Music Composition. I lived in Copenhagen and relocated to NYC in 2005 as Fulbright scholar, and studied Composition at NYU, and Hunter College. I hold an MA degree in Music for Social Change, from Empire State College (NY).

My performance and commission credits span over Europe, Israel, Japan, USA, and Canada. My body of work includes: Progressive Urban Electro-acoustic Jazz, Contemporary, Classical, Tango, Free Improvisation, Electronic-Acoustic live soundtracks for legendary silent films, and Music for Choreography. I performs also therapeutic concerts at hospices, shelters for domestic violence survivors, Juvenile Detention Centers, and charity concerts for social causes.
I teaches locally and globally Flute, Masterclasses, and Interactive Music Appreciation.

URBAN JAZZ:
I lead ”KAT” Modiano Electro-acoustic Jazz ensembles in recordings and performances in New York City and in Europe, at legendary venues such as: Blue Note, Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola, BAMcafé, (NYC), NJPAC, Newark Museum (NJ), Copenhagen Jazz Festival (Denmark), Malmo Jazz Festival (Sweden), etc.
I performed / recorded also with world known jazz musicians: Wycliffe Gordon (Wynton Marsalis), Bernard Purdie (Modern Drummer Hall of Fame), David Haney (Cadence Magazine), Billy Martin (Medeski Martin & Wood), and more. For album releases, see list below.

ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC SOUNDTRACKS:
I composed and performed my Electro-acoustic Live Soundtrack to Silent Films at: Lincoln Center Library for Performing Arts, United Palace for Cultural Arts, The High Line, Jewish Heritage Museum, Fresh Fruit Festival, Spectacle Theater (New York City). Outfilm, (Hartford, CT), CIMM fest- International Movies & Music Festival (Chicago). In Europe: Queersicht. (Bern, Switzerland); Danish film Institute, Cinematek, Grand Theater (Copenhagen), Øst for Paradis (Århus); Vineta Pavilion (Venice Biennale); Gallerie Kuchling (Berlin), Tel Aviv Cinematheque (Tel Aviv), etc. (see releases listed below)

CLASSICAL-CONTEMPORARY:
I have perormed Solo Classical and original Contemporary Electro-acoustic music as interpreter and composer at venues such as: Roulette, The Crypt at Church of the Intercession, Rubin Museum, and NY Botanical Garden (NYC), Sound Symposium (St. John’s, Canada), Immanuel church (Israel), Lund Dom Church (Sweden), Roskilde DomKirke, Glypoteket (Denmark), Braila New Music Festival (Romania), Lille (France), etc.

MUSIC FOR CHOREOGRAPHY:
Collaboration with choreographers: Kim Itoh (Japan), Tim Rushton (UK, DK), Mink Colbert Dance (Europe and USA) and Ellis Wood (NYC), Prismatic Production and Ollom Dance (NYC), Corvino Ballet (NYC).

PUBLICATIONS/RELEASES:
Album Releases/Soundtracks publications featuring original music and more:
- “Redcar”, featuring “KaT”-inDustrial, released on MODIANO, 2001.
- “MODIANO”, featuring “KaT”-inDustrial, released on MODIANO, 2003.
- “La Belle Ombre”, Classical and Contemporary flute & electronics, released Capstone Records, 2006
- “’KAT’ & ‘MOON’ in Manna-hata” Jazz and Electro-acoustic flute- released 2014.
- “Humanity is like an ocean”- Flute Soundscapes- released on CENTAUR RECORDS Inc., 2020.
- "La Pile Électrique de Léontine" (1910) and “Léontine Enfant Terrible” (1911), French silent films with Acher-Modiano’s soundtracks on “Cinema’s First Nasty Women”, released on Kino Lorber 2022.
- “NOMAD Imagination – Roots of Love” – released on Aliud Records 2022.
- "Desmet Collection - Silent Film Compilation" - will be released on Eye Film Player (Eye Amsterdam Filmmuseum's online platform) in December 2023.

PRESS:
Reviews and Feature articles internationally on:
New Music Connoisseur, Cadence Magazine, All About Jazz in NYC, Jazz Magazine in France, Third Ear, Ha’aretz, in Israel, Jazz Special in Denmark and more.
Broadcasts in radio stations in: Denmark, Spain, France, Rumania, Israel, Canada, Mexico and the USA.

AWARDS and GRANTS:
Danish-American Fulbright Commission Scholarship, NY Foundation for Contemporary Art, Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance, Lower Manhattan culture Council, American Scandinavian Society, Copenhagen Culture Foundation, Danish Art Council, Danish Artists Union, Danish Jazz Foundation, Fresh Fruit Festival, International Women in Jazz, and more.