Amygdala  explores cross-cultural language, timbre, and space within expressions focused within while projected outwards. The ensemble is named after the brain's amgydala, which is a mass of nuclei that governs our emotional responses and memories faster and prior to intellectual interventions.  The amygdala is where our survival instincts reside. 
 
In 2016 Jason Kao Hwang (composer/violin/viola) released VOICE (Innova). In 2015 his quintet Sing House performed at Roulette and the Vision Festival (NYC). Burning Bridge, his octet of Chinese and Western instruments, performed at the Magic Triangle (MA.) and the International Festival Musique Actuelle in Canada. His trio Amgydala (djembe, gayakeum) performed at the Red Hook Jazz Festival. In 2014 Zizal, his duo CD with Ayman Fanous, was voted into the second round of the Grammy Awards. In 2013 he premiered Shifting Shorelines, commissioned by Anthony Braxton’s Tri-Centric Orchestra. In 2012, NPR selected Burning Bridge as one of the year’s Top CDs and the Downbeat Critics’ Poll voted him “Rising Star for Violin.” In 2011 and 2012 the critics’ poll of El Intruso voted him #1 for Violin/Viola. He also released Symphony of Souls, performed by his string orchestra Spontaneous River, and Crossroads Unseen, the third CD of his quartet EDGE.  From 2004 – 2011, EDGE performed many concerts both here and abroad. In 2010, the NYC Jazz Record selected Commitment, The Complete Recordings, 1981-1983, from a collective quartet that was his first band, as one of the “Reissued Recordings of the Year.” As violinist, he has worked with Oliver Lake, William Parker, Pauline Oliveros, Anthony Braxton, Henry Threadgill, and many others.
 
Ms. Rami Seo is an accomplished gayakeum artist whose expansive musical repertoire spans the traditional and the contemporary, as well as current and cross-cultural compositions from across the globe. Born and bred in Seoul, Korea, Ms. Rami Seo graduated from National Music School and Seoul High School for Korean Traditional Arts with full scholarship and top honors. In 2002, she was Class Valedictorian at Chung-Ang Univ. in Korean Traditional Music and Music Education. With an impending Master’s Degree in Ethnomusicology from Hunter College, Ms. Seo is a bona-fide scholar, musician, and performance artist. Winner of multiple performing arts competitions, Ms. Seo has graced many renowned stages throughout the U.S, Panama, Nicaragua, Korea and Japan, both as a soloist and in collaboration with other famed artists. Major works include performances at the National Grand Theater of Korea, Korean Traditional Orchestra of Seoul, Korean National Orchestra for Traditional Music, 1988 Seoul Olympics Anniversary Commemoration, Yo Yo Ma’s Silk Road Project, Lincoln Center, UN, Korean Cultural Service, Asia Society, Korea Society, National Folk Festival, Futurism of the 100th Anniversary, the American Festival of Microtonal Music, La Mama, The Kennedy Center, Bryant Park, Time Square, Smithsonian Museum, Museum of Arts and Design, and Metropolitan Museum of Art. To date, Ms. Seo has released several albums and singles. Ms. Seo is also the founder and music director of GEMiNY, and project WORLD MUSIC ENSEMBLE.

Michael  Wimberly, percussionist/composer/arranger/producer from Cleveland, OH is currently based in Harlem, NYC. Wimberly has recorded and toured internationally with Charles Gayle, William Parker, Sabir Mateen, Cooper-Moore, Borah Bergman, Steve Coleman, Roy Campbell, David Murray, John Blum, Sirone, Vernon Reid, Kidd Jordan, Cooper-Moore, Henry Rollins, Blondie, Mickey Hart, Teramasa Hino, Onaje Allen Gumbs. Oluyemi & Ijeoma Thomas and many others.As a percussion soloist Wimberly has been featured with Europe’s Rundfunk and Tonkuntsler Symphony Orchestras, International Regions Symphony of Europe, Yakima Chamber Orchestra,Yakima,WA., Sage City Symphony, Bennington, VT. As a composer Wimberly's compositions appear in dance companies Urban Bush Women, Joffrey Ballet, Alvin Ailey, Philadanco, Forces of Nature, Complexions, Alpha-Omega, Purelements, and The National Song and Dance Company of Mozambique. Wimberly is currently a professor of music at Bennington College in Bennington, VT.