Time for Three

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” Kendall (violin, vocals), and Charles Yang (violin, vocals), TF3 captivates audiences worldwide with virtuosic playing and an 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. The trio has previously appeared with the San Francisco Symphony, Boston Pops, Colorado Symphony, and Seattle Symphony, and was Artist in Residence with the Indianapolis Symphony for more than a decade. TF3 has 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, and Nashville Symphony, as well as with orchestras in Brevard, Sun Valley, Visalia, and Sioux City. This evening’s newly commissioned song cycle by Kevin Puts for Joyce DiDonato and Time For Three, featuring the poetry of Emily Dickinson, had its world premiere at Bregenzer Festspiele in August 2025; subsequent performances across the US include Kansas City and Chicago, as well as at New York’s Carnegie Hall.

TF3’s previous collaboration with composer Kevin Puts helped earn the trio its first Grammy Award, winning in the category of Best Classical Instrumental Solo. That 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 has led the trio to collaborate with cellist and composer Ben Sollee on 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, TF3 has worked with choreographer Lauren Lovette for special performances with the Paul Taylor Dance Company at Lincoln Center. On the recording side, the trio 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, the members of TF3 host master classes, workshops, and musical conversations. They have also been invited for multi-day residencies by universities and youth orchestras. As part of its performances, Time for Three regularly welcomes local student musicians to share the stage, creating collaborative moments that are both empowering and inspiring.

Ranaan Meyer and Nick Kendall are graduates of the Curtis Institute of Music. Charles Yang is a graduate of the Juilliard School.