Grammy and Emmy-winning ensemble Time for Three (TF3) defies convention and boundaries, merging classical, Americana, and singer-songwriter traditions into a singular, remarkable sound. Consisting of Ranaan Meyer (double bass, vocals), Nicolas “Nick” Kenall (violin, vocals) and Charles Yang (violin, vocals), TF3 captivates audiences worldwide with their virtuosic playing and insatiable appetite for creativity that expands typical perceptions of a string trio.
TF3’s collaborations with major orchestras and conductors continue to flourish, including appearances this season with the Philadelphia Orchestra and Marin Alsop, Louisville Orchestra and Teddy Abrams, St. Louis Symphony and Stéphane Denève, New Jersey Symphony, Vancouver Symphony and Nashville Symphony. They have previously appeared with the San Francisco Symphony, Boston Pops, Colorado Symphony, Seattle Symphony, and were Artist in Residence with the Indianapolis Symphony for over a decade. They have additionally been championed by conductors including Sir Simon Rattle, Keith Lockhart, Krzysztof Urbanski, James Gaffigan, and Lio Kuokman.
The trio’s history of groundbreaking commissions has entered a new chapter with Silicon Hymnal, a genre-blending concerto by the highly sought after composer Mason Bates that integrates electronica into the orchestral fabric. The concerto received its premiere at Arizona Musicfest, with subsequent performances with San Francisco Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra at SPAC, Louisville Orchestra, Nashville Symphony and with orchestras in Brevard, Sun Valley, Visalia, and Sioux City.
Time for Three also embarks on a highly anticipated new project with Grammy and Olivier-winning mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, titled Emily – No Prisoner Be. Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Kevin Puts and inspired by the vivid and introspective poetry of Emily Dickinson, the work received its world premiere at the Bregenzer Festspiele in August 2025. It tours across the U.S. this season, including performances at Carnegie Hall, Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall, and Chicago’s Symphony Center.
TF3’s previous collaboration with Puts helped earn the trio their first Grammy Award, winning in the category of Best Classical Instrumental Solo. The commissioned work, titled Contact, was recorded with the Philadelphia Orchestra and Xian Zhang and released on the Deutsche Grammophon label under the album title Letters for the Future. The album also included Jennifer Higdon’s Concerto 4-3, written specifically for the trio. Time for Three has enjoyed additional collaborations with composers Chris Brubeck and William Bolcom, as well as a wide range of artists including Ben Folds, Branford Marsalis, Joshua Bell, Aoife O’Donovan, Natasha Bedingfield, and Arlo Guthrie.
Time for Three’s solo shows have been praised for their “joy, mastery, creativity and supreme artistry” (The Strad), featuring original songs with imaginative arrangements of beloved classical and mainstream works. As described by National Public Radio, “In person, the members of Time for Three come off as just three dudes in a band. But with their staggering technique and freewheeling genre-crossing, it’s hard not to be swept up in the force of their contagious energy.” Their concert special, Time for Three In Concert, was produced by PBS and earned the trio an Emmy Award.
Time for Three’s affinity for new experiences led them to collaborate with cellist and composer Ben Sollee to create the soundtrack for Focus Features’ film Land, which was directed by Robin Wright and premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. For the past two seasons, they have worked with choreographer Lauren Lovette for special performances with the Paul Taylor Dance Company at Lincoln Center. On the recording side, TF3 teamed up with Grammy-winning songwriter Liz Rose and Grammy-winning producer Femke Weidema for new recordings released through Warner Music, and contributed to Summer Walker’s R&B hit, Constant Bullsxxt.
Both on and off stage, TF3 is committed to encouraging the next generation of musicians. In conjunction with their performances, TF3 hosts masterclasses, workshops and musical conversations. They have been invited for multi-day residencies by universities and youth orchestras. As part of their performances, Time for Three regularly welcomes local student musicians to share the stage with them, creating collaborative moments that are both empowering and inspiring.
Ranaan Meyer and Nick Kendall are both graduates of the Curtis Institute of Music. Charles Yang is a graduate of The Juilliard School.
2025-2026
02.05.23
11.15.22
