fivebyfive presents SUBATOMIC MYSTERIES
Rochester Ensemble Celebrates its 10th Anniversary
alongside Quantum Mechanics 100th Anniversary
October 18–19, 2025 7pm & 3pm
Sloan Performing Arts Center in Smith Hall, University of Rochester, 500 Joseph C Wilson Blvd, Rochester NY 14627
Rochester, New York–Step into the unseen world of quantum mechanics with Subatomic Mysteries, an exhilarating fusion of music, dance, visual art, and science. Presented by Rochester chamber ensemble, fivebyfive, this immersive program invites audiences to experience the wonder and complexity of the tiniest building blocks of our universe — not through equations, but through sound, motion, and light.
Subatomic Mysteries is a first-of-its-kind exploration of quantum theory as interpreted by artists and is part of fivebyfive’s 10th anniversary season. Noting a connection that 2025 is also the 100th anniversary year for Quantum Mechanics, the musicians embarked on a quest to collaborate with several groups on a variety of levels. The desire was to feature the abstract beauty of physics with the expressive power of music and dance. Fivebyfive is thrilled to be working with Missy Phfol Smith, Director of the University of Rochester’s Program of Dance and Movement and physicist Antonino Di Piazza of the Laboratory for Laser Energetics.
“At its heart, quantum mechanics is about possibility — particles existing in many states at once, shaping the universe in ways we can’t see,” reflected Laura Lentz, 5x5 Artistic Director. “Music and dance do the same thing; they open up worlds of feeling and meaning that words alone can’t capture–and where science’s questions meet art’s imagination.”
The program features all-new music by Amy Nam, Sean William Calhoun, Steve Danyew, and Felipe Pérez Santiago, each piece is paired with original choreography and cutting-edge visual projections. Audiences will watch as dancers embody the strange elegance of entangled particles, wave-particle duality, and branching probabilities.
Highlights include:
Forking Paths by Felipe Pérez Santiago, choreographed by Mariah Steele
Branches by Steve Danyew, choreographed by Ripp Greatbatch
Playing Dice by Sean William Calhoun, choreographed by Rose Pasquarello Beauchamp, featuring digital projection art by W. Michelle Harris
Quiet/Loud by Amy Nam, choreographed by Missy Pfohl Smith, featuring digital projection art by W. Michelle Harris
Presenting these works are fivebyfive’s musicians: Laura Lentz (flute), Marcy Bacon (clarinet), Ken Luk (electric guitar), Eric Polenik (bass), and Haeyeun Jeun (piano) and audio/visual artist, Marc Webster.
Together, this performance creates a poetic and provocative tapestry that asks:
What can the arts reveal about the mysteries science can’t quite explain?
Please join us to discover your own answers!
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Tickets are available online at fivebyfivemusic.com and through Eventbrite. Tickets are free for UR students with ID, $20 General Admission, $40 Family Max, or Pay What You Can at the Door. Stay connected by following fivebyfive on social media for updates, look for behind-the-scenes stories, and ways to support this landmark season.
Media Contact: Rebecca Leclair rebeccajleclair.com 585-746-6340
fivebyfive is an award-winning chamber ensemble dedicated to commissioning and performing new music created by composers who are typically underrepresented in their field. Five world-class musicians and one video/audio artist make up the group which is based in Rochester, New York. fivebyfive is supported by Rochester Area Community Foundation, the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), and New Music USA for working regularly with and supporting the development of music creators and artists, offering crucial resources to their community. fivebyfive is thrilled to be celebrating ten years of creativity and collaboration in 2025.