ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE FALL 2026
Warren & Flick creates music that feels both grounded and adventurous—rooted in tradition yet unafraid to explore. With Jacob Warren (https://www.jacobvwarren.com/) on double bass and tenor bass, and Grant Flick (https://www.grantflick.com/) on violin, tenor guitar, and nyckelharpa, the duo crafts a compelling sound that blends original composition and improvisation with classical, jazz, and folk traditions. Jacob and Grant met in 2015 at the Acoustic Music Seminar, a former program of the Savannah Music Festival led by multi-instrumentalist Mike Marshall. Designed for young string players from around the world, AMS sparked a musical partnership that’s grown into a deeply collaborative friendship.
Warren & Flick's music reflects their wide-ranging influences and shared curiosity. They spend much of their time composing, arranging, and performing together—crafting pieces that balance clarity and complexity, familiarity and surprise. Their debut album, Kestrel (https://warrenandflick.bandcamp.com/album/kestrel-2) (2019), introduced their sound; Waxwing (https://warrenandflick.bandcamp.com/album/waxwing) (2022) marked a leap forward, showing deeper ensemble interplay and a willingness to blur stylistic lines. Their newest record, Cormorant (https://warrenandflick.bandcamp.com/album/cormorant) (2025), captures a further evolution—brimming with sonic color, inventive textures, and a continued spirit of curiosity.
In addition to performing and recording, Warren & Flick are committed to sharing their music in ways that invite others in. They publish sheet music for many of their original compositions, including fully arranged pieces and a tune book containing lead sheets of many pieces from their albums. These resources make their repertoire accessible to other musicians and reflect the duo’s belief in music as a collaborative, living tradition.
As educators, Warren & Flick lead workshops and clinics that encourage young musicians to find their own voices through improvisation, ear training, and acoustic traditions not often emphasized in traditional school music programs. As they put it:
“Through the wide spectrum of acoustic music, our goal is to inspire, educate, and make meaningful connections with students through music. As perpetual students ourselves, we strive to share the multitude we have learned through our experiences in standard curriculums, the lessons we have learned working outside of those curriculums, and how both perspectives provide valuable lessons in creativity, listening, and leadership.”
Both Jacob and Grant are graduates of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance. In 2023, Jacob won first prize in the International Society of Bassists Solo Competition, and in 2025, Warren & Flick were invited to headline the ISB Convention in Tallahassee, Florida. The duo was also a finalist in the 2024 Concert Artists Guild Competition.
Residency Goals
The Warren & Flick Artist Residency is designed to create meaningful connections between professional artists, student musicians, and the communities Unison serves across Southeast Michigan. At the center of the residency is a commitment to mentorship, engagement, and reimagining how musicians can connect with audiences both inside and outside of traditional concert spaces.
Through workshops, conversations, performances, and collaborative activities, Warren & Flick will work closely with student musicians to model approaches to artistry rooted not only in technical excellence, but also in communication, creativity, flexibility, and human connection. Students will have the opportunity to learn directly from artists who have built innovative careers by challenging traditional performance models and prioritizing audience engagement and accessibility within their work.
The residency will also provide opportunities for students to observe and participate in engagement-based performances at Unison’s partner sites, helping them develop the skills necessary to connect thoughtfully and authentically with diverse audiences. By exposing students to community-centered artistic work early in their training, Unison hopes to encourage a more compassionate, adaptable, and socially engaged generation of musicians.
For Unison’s audiences, the residency brings dynamic and highly interactive performances directly into shelters, recovery centers, and other community spaces. Warren & Flick’s approachable and collaborative performance style encourages audiences to actively participate in the musical experience through conversation, reflection, and shared listening. Their residency helps demonstrate that high-level artistry and accessibility can exist hand in hand, creating performances that are both musically engaging and deeply human.
More broadly, the residency reflects Unison’s belief that musicians can play an important role in building empathy, community, and connection through their work. By bringing together artists, students, and audiences in shared spaces, the Warren & Flick Residency aims to foster meaningful artistic experiences that extend far beyond the traditional concert hall.