Eric Haeker

Arts in Motion Founder and Composer

Eric is a composer, music visualization artist, music educator, and arts consultant with past projects including Red Bull's Concerto for Turntable in Carnegie Hall and events featuring DJ Spooky, DJ Z-Trip, and DJ Radar.  In 2002, Eric founded Arts in Motion in order to present multimedia classical concerts as well as music education programs for inner-city youth.  The Philadelphia Inquirer dubbed him "the ultimate classical-music insider" in the emerging field of music visualization and praised his 2004 Kimmel Center debut: "Past attempts to pair music with visuals have been critically damned, but the latest endeavor, involving computer-generated abstract imagery, made a deeply promising debut in tandem with Bach's Harpsichord Concerto No. 5... the visuals formed an organic union with the music." 

For the past three years, Eric has served as Arts in Motion’s Board President, Treasurer, and volunteer administrator.  During this fiscal year, Eric will transition into a paid role as Executive and Artistic Director after the board has chosen successors for the Board President and Treasurer roles.

Michelle Bishop

Staff Violinist, Educator, and Performance Manager

A 2004 graduate of the Eastman School of Music, Michelle represents a new generation of classical musicians that are as comfortable in the club as they are in the concert hall.  She performs with several traditional ensembles including the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, the Opera Company of Philadelphia, and the Academy of Vocal Arts, but she is just as active in the national hip hop and pop music scenes.  As principal second violin for the Artsehcro (“orchestra” spelled backwards), she premiered the first Concerto for Turntable with DJ Radar in Carnegie Hall (2005).  This year, Michelle will be featured on Jennifer Lopez’ next album Brave to be released in October 2007.  She has also recorded with the Philadelphia-based rock group Buried Beds and has begun to perform internationally through the Pacific Music Festival in Japan and an international chamber orchestra assembled in Santiago Chile. 

As Arts in Motion’s staff artist, Michelle coordinates artist contracting for performances and also performs regularly for education and outreach programs.  She works directly with inner-city youth via Arts in Motion’s composition program, performing and recording student works.  She also serves nearly 1,000 per year through volunteer performances in local hospitals.  This summer (2007) marked Michelle’s radiobroadcast premiere with her live classical fusion performance synchronized to video projections on the side of a power plant in Maine.   Hundreds gathered in boats and along the harbor and tuned in their radios (drive-in-theater style) for this unique multimedia event (the Maine Center for Creativity’s Lighthouse project).

Maurice Roberts

Education Summer Program Instructor (and former Arts in Motion student)

Maurice is another former star student in the Arts in Motion Education Department who has “completed the circle” and become a paid instructor teaching his younger peers.  A 2007 graduate of Philadelphia’s Freire Charter School, Maurice is currently attending college pursuing both music and computer science.  During his summers, Maurice manages the establishment of new satellite locations for Arts in Motion’s expanding education program.  This summer (2007), he was hired to manage the technology outfitting of computer composition systems for the Wharton Square Recreation Center, where he also taught summer courses before passing the baton to his successor who now runs that program year-round (Joe Hargrave, see above).

Maurice started his career in his early teens as a musician for several solo artists in his community and soon became a full time organist at the New Gethsemane Baptist Church of South Philadelphia Inc.  His training with Arts in Motion began at age 14 and quickly led to film scoring opportunities for various film producers and professional engagements featuring Curtis-trained musicians performing his original compositions in venues including the Philadelphia Museum of Art.  While he was still in high school, Maurice’s work with Arts in Motion was featured in several local press articles as well as a brief documentary video produced by WHYY.