Recorder player Jorge Isaac (1974) is from Venezuela and artistic director of Black Pencil. As a soloist and teacher, Jorge has traveled all over the world. He has played at international festivals and collaborated with renowned musicians and companies, such as ASKO Schönberg, the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, the National Ballet, the Dutch Opera, director Audi, composer György Ligeti and conductor Reinbert de Leeuw. More than 180 compositions have been written especially for him, making him one of the most influential recorder players worldwide. Jorge has been a principal subject teacher at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam since 2006.

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Pan flutist Matthijs Koene (1977) is the only Pencil born in the Netherlands. He is internationally regarded as one of the most prominent pan flutists of his time. During his studies, Matthijs developed a new technique that increased the technical possibilities and expression of the pan flute, allowing the pan flute to enter classical music. Just like for Jorge, he teaches at the Conservatory of Amsterdam. Many composers have written works especially for him. Matthijs plays a pan flute that was developed by the Dutch organ builder Flentrop, on loan to him by the National Musical Instruments Fund.

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Esra Pehlivanli (1977) was born in Turkey and is the viola player of Black Pencil. Although all the great classical viola works are part of her repertoire, she has a great love for contemporary music. She is a much sought-after soloist and has played in that capacity with orchestras all over the world, such as the Neue Philharmonie Westfalen, Bilkent Symphony Orchestra, Presidential Symphony Orchestra, Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra. In addition to Black Pencil, she plays in other formations. You can read more about that on her own website.

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Accordionist Marko Kassl (1976) was born in Austria and lives just across the border in Germany. As a result, he is also very active in our neighboring country and teaches accordion at both the German Detmold Academy of Music and the Conservatory in Amsterdam. He works a lot with internationally acclaimed composers to expand the repertoire for his relatively 'young' instrument. Like all other Pencils, he regularly performs as a soloist and with other companies. Together with Esra, he forms the duo Mares.

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Our Spanish percussionist Enric Monfort (1979) is an experienced musician in almost all music scenes. He has worked with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Slagwerkgroep Den Haag and Orquesta Del Palau De Les Arts De València, but has also been a percussionist for many years in the productions of Club Guy and Roni. Enric is involved with percussion traditions from all over the world, such as Africa, India, South America, Japan, Korea and of course Spain and Europe. He has also created his own shows and written theater and film music. Enric is a teacher of multipercussion at the Percusons Percussion Academy (Valencia) and Art of the Collective Imagination (Izmir).

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