Cali Immersive Residency: The Hands Free and Members of the Dance Heginbotham
Acoustic Quartet, Classical, Folk, Jazz and Improvisation
The Hands Free is a whimsical acoustic quartet featuring composer-performers James Moore on guitar and banjo, Caroline Shaw on violin, Nathan Koci on accordion, and Eleonore Oppenheim on bass. Drawing from classical, jazz, folk, theater, and experimental traditions, the group creates a vivid blend of joyful melodies, lush textures, and explosive improvisation.
Friends and collaborators for more than 20 years, the members of The Hands Free first came together through New York’s vibrant music and arts scene. The quartet grew out of informal after-hours folk jams and a shared love of creativity, spontaneity, and musical adventure.
Individually, the artists have built wide-ranging careers across concert music, theater, dance, opera, recording, and interdisciplinary performance. Their collective credits include Pulitzer Prize- and Grammy Award-winning work, Broadway productions including Illinoise and Oklahoma!, collaborations with leading composers and ensembles, and performances across classical, folk, jazz, and experimental music.
- Date
- Location
- Montclair Campus, Several Venues in Chapin Hall
- Cost
- Free
- Organizer
Complete Schedule of Events
Monday, November 16, 2026
Bass Practicum (Public)
2 - 3:55 p.m.
Leshowitz Recital Hall, Chapin Hall, Montclair State University
Wednesday, November 18, 2026
Cali Midweek Series: Immersive Residency with The Hands Free and Dance Heginbotham
2:00 - 3:00 pm
Leshowitz Recital Hall, Chapin Hall, Montclair State University
Get a sneak peek at The Party Scene, a brand-new work by The Hands Free and Dance Heginbotham, presented in a workshop-style performance that invites you into the creative process. The playful acoustic quartet The Hands Free—featuring violin, bass, guitar, and accordion—blends chamber music with jazz improvisation, while the wonderfully whimsical Dance Heginbotham brings the music to life through movement. This Midweek performance offers a behind-the-scenes look at a new work as it takes shape, with an opportunity to experience the artists experimenting, collaborating, and discovering the piece together.
FREE. Reservations Required
Followed by reception in lobby
Thursday, November 19, 2026
Performance: The Hands Free & Dance Heginbotham: The Party Scene
7:30 p.m.
Merkin Hall, Kaufmann Center, NYC
Members of the fabulously whimsical Dance Heginbotham join the eclectic ensemble The Hands Free for The Party Scene, a music and dance extravaganza inspired by The Nutcracker and your rowdy holiday office party. Lightly immersive and family friendly, The Party Scene features Nathan Koci, accordion; Christina Courtin, violin; James Moore, guitar and banjo and Eleonore Oppenheim, bass, plus students from Montclair State University. All guests are encouraged to don impressively festive seasonal sweaters.
Student–artist collaborations at Kaufman Music Center are made possible with support from The Roz Lasker Artist Mentorship Fund.
Tickets
Sunday, November 21, 2026- Performance
3:00 p.m.
Alexander Kasser Theater, Montclair State University
Tickets
Learn more about the Cali Immersive Residency Program at Montclair's Cali School of Music
- Topic
- Audience
