ABOUT
Phenotypic Recordings is a media company that brings to light new music by world-class musicians and innovative composers, with a focus on music that highlights the most important issues facing the world today. Artists include Kronos Quartet, Osvaldo Golijov, Kenji Bunch, Modern Violin Ensemble (MoVE), W4RP and more.
As another way of amplifying artistic voices, Phenotypic Recordings donates revenue from streaming and downloads to support humanitarian causes identified by the artists making the music.
The Birth of Phenotypic Recordings
Phenotypic Recordings began, as most good things do, with a friendship. Many years ago, Stephen Prutsman met Michael Hostetler and Erica Pascal in San Diego, at a contemporary music series he was curating — Mike and Erica were the rare kind of supporters who showed up in person, eager to meet the artists whose work they'd come to hear. When their 30th wedding anniversary approached, they asked Steve to write them a string quartet, a pastiche of Americana which had some reference to the life they'd built together.
Sometime later, Steve and Mike met for lunch at their favorite burrito hang in SF and Mike said, "Hey Steve, I want to start a record company." He then explained how he'd spent years traveling to premieres of new works — pieces built through enormous effort and logistics — only to watch the listening experience vanish afterward, with nothing left to show for it. Mike wanted to create opportunities for something more lasting: high-level, professional studio recordings of Great New Music.
Steve and Mike's conversations about getting great new music out there grew into something larger: about whether great music and a deeper sense of conscience are connected in some way. They came to believe they are. Greek philosophers spoke of truth, goodness, and beauty as three faces of the same thing, each one leading you toward the others if you follow far enough. Beauty and grace in music don't just please the ear — they're bound up with those other facets of the same thing, and they together turn your attention outward, toward people and the world.
We record great new music for its own sake, and when it can also speak to something larger — the climate crisis, social justice for women around the world, access to education and healthcare, the plight of refugees, and the many other worthwhile fights out there — we look for all the ways we can to advocate and amplify.
Stephen Prutsman, Pianist and Composer
Moving easily from classical to jazz to world music styles as a pianist and composer, Stephen Prutsman continues to explore and seek common ground and relationships in the music of all cultures and languages.
Born in Los Angeles, Stephen first began playing the piano by ear at age 3, before moving on to more formal music studies. In his teens and early 20s, he was the keyboard player for several art rock groups including Cerberus and Vysion. He was also during those years a solo jazz pianist playing in many southern California clubs and lounges, as well as the music arranger for a nationally syndicated televangelist program. He was a proud winner of television’s “The Gong Show” in 1976.
In the early 90's his career as a classical pianist was launched after receiving the Avery Fisher Career Grant and winning medals at the Tchaikovsky (Moscow) and Queen Elisabeth (Brussels) Piano Competitions. Since then, Stephen has performed the classical concerto repertoire as soloist with many of the world’s leading orchestras.
Michael Hostetler, A Life in Support of Music
For more than two decades, Michael Hostetler has devoted his time, resources, and leadership to supporting classical music and the artists who create it. Together with his wife, Erica Pascal, Mike is a passionate advocate for contemporary music, helping ensembles, composers, festivals, and educational organizations bring ambitious artistic projects to life.
Their work has extended far beyond traditional philanthropy. Mike and Erica have developed close friendships over the years with many of the artists they support. Through commissioning new works, underwriting concert series, supporting educational outreach, serving on nonprofit boards, and fostering long-term artistic partnerships, Mike and Erica have helped ensure that important musical voices continue to be heard by audiences around the world.
What began as a love of music has evolved into a lifelong commitment to preserving, expanding, and sustaining the future of classical music.
Mary Paz Cubero N, Director of Product Development & Strategic Partnerships
Working closely with artists, ensembles, orchestras, producers, and industry partners, she helps guide projects from early development through commercial release.
Mary is passionate about helping artists and arts organizations find the tools and opportunities to bring great artistic work to broad audiences. She is interested in how technology can make music and the arts more accessible and create stronger connections between organizations and the people they serve. Alongside her work at Phenotypic, Mary serves as Director of Strategic Partnerships at Fictive Kin, a digital product and design studio working with arts and cultural organizations. Mary previously held roles with The Cleveland Orchestra and The Knights NYC.
Mary is based in Costa Rica, where she enjoys warm weather year-round and spending time at the beach.
Artwork by Ally Knopf