Nu Deco Ensemble celebrates 10 years of its innovative sound with concert

Miami Herald

21-04-2025

Not all orchestras sound the same—and few sound quite like Nu Deco Ensemble. Since its debut in 2015, the Miami-based group has transformed the city's music scene with a vibrant, genre-blurring concept that's both versatile and visionary: a fusion of classical tradition with popular styles such as pop, jazz, funk, and electronica.
The idea, conceived by conductor Jacomo Bairos and composer-arranger Sam Hyken was to create a 21st-century orchestra: agile, experimental, and deeply connected to its community and culture.
A Nu Deco performance offers a musical experience where the sophistication of a chamber ensemble meets the raw energy of contemporary music. Called a 'chamber orchestra for the 21st century' by The New York Times, its repertoire features collaborations with artists such as Macy Gray, Ben Folds, Jacob Collier, Stephen Marley, and Danay Suárez, alongside bold reimaginings of music by Daft Punk, Rosalía, and The Weeknd.
'I always look back on our concert with Wyclef Jean with great emotion,' recalls Bairos, a Portuguese-American conductor, producer, and host of the Nu Deco 'Unfiltered' podcast. About the collaborative performance in 2022, he says: 'It wasn't just an electrifying show—it made me feel that everything we had dreamed of with this orchestra was becoming reality: collaboration, energy, diversity, and a powerful connection with the audience. It's also been incredible to see how we've grown within our community, impacting young musicians and audiences who hadn't previously engaged with orchestral music.'
On Saturday Nu Deco Ensemble will mark its 10th anniversary with a concert at the Knight Concert Hall at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. The program features 40 musicians on stage, guest artists, an original anniversary suite, new musical collaborations, and, as the organizers say, several surprises.
'This program represents the best of who we are. It has every element we aspire to express,' says Bairos, a graduate of both The Juilliard School and the Peabody Institute, who has performed and toured internationally with the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops. 'We'll start with our anniversary suite—a kind of 'greatest hits' collection that includes orchestral interpretations of songs by The Police, Daft Punk, Bill Withers, and Outkast. It's a tribute to the artists who've become part of our musical DNA.'
Also in the program is the 'Symphonic Dances of 'West Side Story' ' by Leonard Bernstein, which Bairos describes as 'a 20th-century masterpiece that blends musical genres and perfectly embodies our philosophy of performing works by 20th- and 21st-century composers.'
The evening also includes the world premiere of a commissioned piece by Grammy-winning artist PJ Morton, composed specifically for Nu Deco. 'This work is a great example of our commitment to commissioning new music from artists who don't typically write for orchestras,' explains Bairos.
A piece with composer and multi-instrumentalist Kishi Bashi was built 'through a uniquely collaborative process—just like a legendary band would. It reflects our willingness to break traditional molds,' he adds.
One of the ensemble's earliest collaborators, Bashi says he was invited by Nu Deco where he worked with members of the ensemble to craft a composition, which he adds, taps into jazz, fusion and contemporary composition.
'You can hear the result,' says Bashi. It was an honor to be one of their first artists in this type of collaboration. I worked with Sam Hyken to finish the piece, and we are extremely excited to share the resulting work, 'The Calling,' ' says Bashi.
The grand finale will feature Puerto Rican Luis Fonsi—winner of four Latin Grammy Awards, seven Billboard Latin Music Awards, and three Grammy nominations—performing live with the ensemble. 'Fonsi is a global icon,' says Bairos. 'Our goal is to elevate his music and offer a new perspective through the full spectrum of colors that only an orchestra can provide.'
One of Nu Deco's most notable accomplishments is its foundation in local talent. 'Most of our musicians are freelancers based in Miami,' says Bairos. 'While we occasionally bring in players from out of town for specific needs, our core is built from musicians who've forged careers playing in orchestras, opera pits, chamber groups, and teaching here in the city. In fact, we still have six or seven musicians who were with us from our very first season.'
In recent years, Nu Deco has launched open auditions for substitute players, expanding access and helping to discover fresh talent in the area. 'A lot of musicians wanted to play with us but didn't know how. These auditions have allowed us to find emerging artists and musicians new to Miami. If they meet our standards, we invite them to join us. It's been a fantastic way to strengthen Miami's artistic ecosystem.'
Operating in a landscape where public funding for the arts continues to shrink, Nu Deco has had to be both adaptive and inventive. While the ensemble enjoys support from private donors and philanthropic programs, the reduction in state funding poses serious challenges.
'We're a small organization. When a $90,000 state grant disappears due to political shifts, it has a serious impact on our operations,' says Bairos. 'Our budget is limited, so any cut is felt deeply.'
Nonetheless, the ensemble has embraced an entrepreneurial mindset, diversifying its revenue streams through performances, corporate sponsorships, membership programs, and robust educational outreach.
'Foundations are still out there, but their priorities are shifting. That's why we're evolving the way we serve our community,' adds Bairos. 'We all want this city to thrive, and we believe art, culture, and education are essential to that goal.'
Still, sustainable growth is key to the future. 'To keep producing full seasons every year, we need to secure more funding, and that means growing our staff,' says Bairos.
Ten years in, Nu Deco Ensemble's founders believe they represent far more than an innovative musical concept. They want to show what a bold redefinition of what a modern orchestra can be—one that's inclusive, forward-thinking, and deeply rooted in its community. Bairos and Hyken have proven that symphonic music can be vibrant, relevant, and unafraid to evolve.
'Music unites us all—and that's what we want to keep doing: unite,' says Bairos.
If you go:
WHAT: Nu Deco Ensemble Anniversary Concert with Special Guest Luis Fonsi, Kishi Bashi, and music by PJ Morton.
WHEN: 8 p.m., Saturday
WHERE: Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami
COST: $75-$250.
INFO: 305-702-0116 and www.arshtcenter.org
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