7 Degrees Ensemble

building connections through music and culture

We are a performing, recording, and touring chamber music ensemble of string and vocal musicians who offer high-caliber, sophisticated musical performances for music festivals, special events, and occasions.  Founded in 2016, the ensemble includes four performing artists based in the San Francisco Bay Area: Jakob Sonnek (guitar), Taryn Rosenquist (violin, piano, voice), Claire MacKenzie (voice, frame drum), and Kurt Gramckow (‘oud). We believe that music is a powerful connector of peoples.  Our mission is to introduce audiences to classical and traditional repertoire which reveals a common musical ancestry and kinship shared around the globe. Past performances include the award-winning concert series at Mission Dolores San Francisco “Notes for Nourishment” sponsored by the global non-profit organization, Listen for Life, the Barcelona Festival of Song in Spain, the benefit-concert for Our Lady of Fatima in San Francisco, and the benefit-concert supporting local charities sponsored by Bodhi Tree Concerts North.

 To join our mailing list for future concerts, or to book 7 Degrees Ensemble for your special occasion, please go to Contact page.

Jakob Sonnek

is a Swedish born classical guitarist located in San Francisco where he is currently attending a Master's of Music program at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, under the tutelage of Marcin Dylla and David Tannenbaum. Before moving to San Francisco, Jakob earned a Bachelor's Degree in classical guitar performance from Malmö Academy of Music in Sweden. Jakob spent his final year of his studies at the University of California Santa Cruz, developing his interest for modern music. Jakob has been awarded with several prizes and scholarships, including the prestigious Matthew Wynbrant Guitar Award, second place in the SFCM Concerto Competition and scholarships from among others, the Royal Swedish Academy of Music and the Prince Carl Philip's Foundation for Music and Arts. Jakob specializes in the performance of chamber and modern music, particularly compositions of Spanish and South American origin. Recently, Jakob completed a tour in the San Francisco Bay Area, featuring an historic replica built by the San Francisco master luthier, Alan Pearlman, of the original 1888 Antonio de Torres guitar.

Taryn RosenQuist

is an emerging presence in the Bay Area. Taryn is a passionate performing artist with equal interest in cultivating a new generation of musically-minded individuals. Hailing from Chicago, Taryn studied Fine Art and Elementary Education at North Park University, and participated in the development of the first El Sistema-inspired Music Education System in Chicago, the YOURS Project. Taryn’s versatility as a performing artist extends to chamber music, blues/folk/jazz, underscoring for theatre, and sectional violin playing in symphonic orchestras. Recent collaborations include House of Blues, Strawdog Theatre, 2nd Story, Northbrook Symphony, Livermore Valley Opera Chorus, Solano Symphony, Contemporary Opera Marin, The Bracebridge Dinners, The Zelda Chorus, The Chieftains, National Geographic Symphony for Our World Chorus, Our Lady of Fatima Russian Byzantine Church, and the Tríada Ensemble. Additionally, Taryn teaches piano, violin, and voice in the East Bay and freelances as a Visual Designer & Illustrator.

Claire MacKenzie

is an internationally recognized mezzo-soprano, possessing an intrigue of world musics which she delivers in the rich colors and depths of her voice. Claire received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music with concentrations in Opera and Middle Eastern Art Song, as well as a Minor in German Language and Literature from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, after which she went on to study Arabic Language and Recitation at Middlebury College. She has performed in operas and orchestral concerts in venues throughout North America, Russia, South Korea, China, Germany, Austria, Spain and Portugal. Notable performances include Ms. MacKenzie’s collaboration with the late Grammy Award Winner, Al Jarreau, and her Carnegie Hall solo debut of the Rahbani Brothers’ Andalousiyyāt Suite. Currently, Ms. MacKenzie studies with Eugene Brancoveanu and Ali Paris, and she is in pursuit of an MM and PhD in Performing Arts and Music Education through Boston University’s College of Music. Claire also composes, arranges, and transcribes music for a number of ensembles and music organizations.

Kurt Gramckow (‘oud)

is a multi-instrumentalist based in San Francisco. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo where he studied classical guitar with James Edwards, Jim Bachman, and Craig Russell, as well as ‘oud and ethnomusicology with Kenneth Habib. Kurt has taught guitar, ‘oud, and other plucked strings, and has performed guitar and classical Arabic music in various ensembles throughout California. Currently, Kurt is a J.D. Candidate at the University of San Francisco School of Law. 

Ali Paris (Qānūn)

“One of the most eclectic and diverse artists”     
~ Alicia Keys

“Unrivaled unique artist”  
 ~ Quincy Jones

Ali Paris captivates audiences worldwide with his unique fusion of Middle Eastern and Western music styles highlighted by both technical virtuosity and emotional expression. He accompanies his singing with his instrument, the Qanun, a rare Middle-Eastern 76-string zither that dates back to the 14th century. Ali’s music education began at the age of 5 in his native countries of Morocco and Palestine studying Arabic traditional music with master Simon Shaheen. He quickly became known as a child prodigy, performing great concert halls by age 9 and touring internationally by the age of 11.

Since then he has received multiple international awards including the TBA Awards 2017, Artist of the Year (2006-2009), and has expanded his musical career exponentially relocating to the United States to earn his degree at Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of Music.  He has collaborated with a long list of world-renowned artists such as Alicia Keys, Quincy Jones, Ashton Kutcher, Jessica Alba, David Broza, Paco De Lucia and Bobby McFerrin. His solo performances have reached diverse audiences from the Newport and Istanbul Jazz Festivals to the White House in Washington DC and the Royal Palace in Jordan to play for both President Abbas of Palestine and Queen Rania of Jordan. He has appeared as a soloist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Michigan Philharmonic and is featured in the renowned Grammy-winning Spanish documentary “Entre2aguas”, the Hollywood movie “Noah” and Forbes under 30 concert series, These appearances were the first to feature the Qanun as a multi-genre instrument on a grand scale. Ali has also collaborated with numerous world-renowned artists to benefit the work of Doctors Without Borders, Save a Child's Heart and Keep A Child Alive including an album with Alejandro Sanz that has funded numerous humanitarian projects around the world.

Ali Paris tours extensively in the US, Europe & The Middle-East. These performances are marked for their exploration of fertile ground in the crossover between Eastern and Western cultures and music genres.