Local music school Music Compound’s Album Ensemble returns for its fifth album tribute effort, performing Irish rock legends U2’s renowned fifth album, “The Joshua Tree,” in its entirety. The Album Ensemble – comprising nine students ages 14-19, together with three Music Compound instructors – will present two performances on Saturday, March 15, at 6 and 7:30 p.m. at Music Compound (775 Bell Rd., Sarasota), and an additional performance on Saturday, March 29 at 6 p.m. at The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime (821 Apricot Ave., Sarasota).

Previous Album Ensemble shows featured performances of Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon” (October 2023), Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumours” (March 2024), The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” (June 2024), and Nirvana’s “MTV Unplugged in New York” (October 2024).  As with all previous events, the performances are being tied to fundraising for a local charity; this time, the beneficiary organization is Resilient Retreat.

Three Music Compound students - Sophia Emmons, Rhys Kallins and Chase Scott - have participated in all of the Album Ensemble concerts. 

“The Album Ensemble is a wonderful program that's opened my eyes to a lot of great music that I wouldn't have listened to or even thought of otherwise. The whole experience teaches responsibility, communication, and commitment,” said Kallins, 19, who sings and plays keys. “I find that each album's participants are genuine and open-minded, and I'm currently having a blast getting our current album ready with the team.”

Music Compound instructors Taylor Galford and Iain Harris, who created the Album Ensemble program, are especially excited for these shows.

“'The Joshua Tree’ is a real passion project for the Music Compound family,” said Galford. “U2’s 30th Anniversary Tour for this album was the first concert that one of our students, Braedon Rutkauski, ever attended. Braedon has been a mainstay of our school since becoming a member, taking private lessons, playing drums in our youth bands, and eventually working with us as a valued junior member of staff, teaching, mentoring, and guiding the next generation of musicians.” 

Galford noted that Rutkauski’s story has served as a great example of everything that makes Music Compound so special, and says that having him play drums for the very album that inspired him to become a musician seemed like the perfect way to pay tribute to the difference music can and does make in young people’s lives.

“Our Album Ensemble program has taken off in a way I could never have imagined before the first of these concerts. It aligns so perfectly with our commitment to fostering collaboration and providing intergenerational opportunities for our students,” added Music Compound Founder and President Jenny Townsend. “This program provides an intensive collaborative experience – between players of all ages and skill levels – and enables the participants to really get inside some of the best music ever made.”

Recorded between January 1986 and January 1987, and released in March of 1987, “The Joshua Tree” was greeted with incredible acclaim. At the 1988 Grammy Awards, “The Joshua Tree” was recognized with “Album of the Year” and “Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal.” In Rolling Stone magazine's 1987 readers' polls, the band won Best Album, Best Band, Best Male Singer, Artist of the Year, and Best Single (for "With or Without You," the first of five hit singles from the album). 

Tickets are $10; visit musiccompound.com/music-compound-album-ensemble. 

Visit musiccompound.com for more information about Music Compounds programs for all ages and skill levels.

PHOTO ID: Music Compound’s Album Ensemble returns on March 15 and 29 with three performances of the legendary album, ‘The Joshua Tree’

Provided photo/Music Compound

About Music Compound
The Music Compound (775 Bell Road, Sarasota) provides an environment to inspire, collaborate and educate children and adults in pursuit of their love of music.  The goal is to transform dreams into reality by providing a contemporary and influential environment for musicians of all ages. For more information, visit musiccompound.com.