Andy Akiho Portrait Concert at Salt Bay Chamberfest

Sandbox Percussion joined composer and steel pan virtuoso Andy Akiho for a special portrait concert at Salt Bay Chamberfest in Damariscotta, Maine. Presented at the historic Lincoln Theater, the program celebrated Akiho’s distinctive compositional voice through an evening devoted entirely to his music.

The concert featured selections spanning Akiho’s celebrated percussion repertoire, including movements from Seven Pillars, the large-scale work that earned Sandbox Percussion a GRAMMY® nomination and was named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. The program also included Portal, Karakurenai (“Crimson”), Aka (“Red”), Go, and Locken, works that showcase Akiho’s signature blend of rhythmic vitality, theatrical energy, and inventive instrumentation.

A highlight of the evening was the world premiere of Pentalateral I, part of an ongoing collaborative project between Akiho and Sandbox Percussion. Featuring Akiho performing alongside the ensemble on steel pan, the concert reflected the deep artistic partnership that has developed between the composer and quartet over more than a decade of collaboration.

Known for merging influences from classical music, jazz, Caribbean traditions, and experimental sound worlds, Akiho’s music has become central to Sandbox Percussion’s repertoire and artistic identity. The portrait concert offered audiences an immersive exploration of his evolving body of work and the dynamic creative relationship behind it.