Contemporary Classical Artist

Beyond her work in the standard repertoire, Ms. Tamborini is deeply committed to contemporary classical music, a passion that began during her time at Stony Brook University. As a member of the Contemporary Chamber Players, she performed seminal works like Steve Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians, Xenakis’s À hélène, Steven Mackey’s Moebius Band, and John Cage’s Litany for the Whale.

Ms. Tamborini is dedicated to collaborating with composers, bringing to life compositions that are not only musically demanding but also rich in thematic depth. Her voice becomes an instrument for exploring and amplifying societal issues, further resonating with audiences. Among her recent projects is the premiere of Eliza Brown’s In the Age of the Rise, an exploration of climate change imagined through three songs for soprano and ensemble, performed at Roulette in Brooklyn, NY. Additionally, she has worked with composer Niloufar Nourbakhsh on The Darkness of the Womb, a profound piece inspired by Valeri Kaur’s evocative speech, portraying the struggles of a mother, sister, and descendant of immigrants confronting racism and intolerance. Ms. Tamborini’s collaborations with living composers continue, including her work on Chelsea Loew’s This Living Hand, further cementing her role as a vital interpreter of contemporary music.

“The Living Hand” by Chelsea Loew

Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra

 Sputter Box

Sputter Box is an innovative clarinet, voice, percussion ensemble based in New York City that is engaging new audiences in contemporary chamber music through their entertaining, interdisciplinary performances. While only a trio, this ensemble moves from “mindfully constructed textures that are light as a feather, and then turn on a dime to explode into something practically orchestral” (Michael Genese).

As pioneers for the unique instrumentation, they have commissioned over fifty works and have received grants from Chamber Music America, Harvard University FROMM Music Foundation, Brooklyn Arts Council, and Queens Arts Council to produce their concerts in New York City and the US. They were resident artists at Princeton University (2024), University of Florida (2021, 2025), UMASS-Amherst (2020), and Columbus State University (2025). Sputter Box was an Eighth Blackbird Creative Lab Ensemble (2024), Kinds of Kings Bouman Fellowship Collaborating Ensemble (2022), Cortona Sessions for New Music Featured Ensemble Fellow (2020), Avaloch Farm Music Institute participant (2019), and they performed at the Minnesota Fringe Festival in 2021 and 2022. Sputter Box’s commitment to fun, high-quality performances brings an irresistible energy to the stage.

Sputter Box was founded by Kathryn Vetter (clarinets), Alina Tamborini (soprano), and Peter White (percussion).

For the most current Sputter Box updates, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.