Since their 2006 debut at Kosovel Hall in Ljubljana, Slovenia, SWARMIUS has thrilled audiences and critics from around the world. Regarded as a maverick ensemble, SWARMIUS—Joseph Waters (Laptop/Composer), Felix Olschofka (violin), Todd Rewoldt (saxophones) and Joel Bluestone (percussion)—has “thrown down the gauntlet” of how modern-classical musical fusion should sound. Performing in venues ranging from rave clubs to concert halls, SWARMIUS continues to push the musical boundaries with original compositions that put the “groove” and pulse back into classical music. In just three short years, SWARMIUS has a growing international following that includes Ireland, Germany, Slovenia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Canada, and the United States.

Each member of SWARMIUS is a virtuoso in their own right. In addition to performing as an ensemble, Waters, Olschofka, Rewoldt and Bluestone continue to perform as invited soloists and clinicians around the world. Their combined performances have taken them across six continents to the most prestigious universities and conservatories, music festivals and conferences.

SWARMIUS’ new direction in music fusion is the result of each musician’s unique backgrounds and influences. Says Rewoldt (saxophones), a former sponsored amateur skateboarder, punk bassist and graduate from the Eastman School of Music (DMA): You have to have balls, you have to go for it. If you’re speeding across a parking lot, about to 360 flip down a set of 15 stairs, you have a choice to make. Either pull the trick or end up bloody as hell, getting stitches and picking at scabs for the next three weeks. This is the mindset of SWARMIUS.

Felix Olschofka (violin), began playing the violin at the age of five, winning numerous competitions, recording at the age of fourteen and playing for the president of Germany before he was twenty.

Joseph Waters (Laptop/Composer) grew up playing in rock bands, studied at Yale and conjures a musical brew that juxtaposes hip-hop and Mahler.
I'm not interested in making simple, or, 'dumbed-down' music for the masses. On the contrary, I think in general people are smart, that the musical choices they make are important and worthy of serious consideration. I love classical music, and realize that for it to remain healthy it must connect in the most vital way with the music that most people listen to in their daily lives and that speaks to them and that they care about. And I also love rock — it’s where I come from and is deep inside me.

SWARMIUS’ frequent guest percussionist Joel Bluestone was tapping things before he could walk, maintains a rigorous performance schedule of horse racing, rock drumming & world percussion. According to Bluestone, At heart I'm just a kid with two sticks who likes to rock and extract sound from anything that does not protest too loudly. Joel's unique flair provides SWARMIUS with a blast of rhythmic color.