Meet the Grantees: ARKAI

In the summer of 2018, two classically trained string players wandered into the same jam session after a conference day at The Juilliard School. And in an unexpected moment of electric musical connection, Jonathan Miron and Philip Sheegog realized they had something magical. A few months later, they solidified their musical connection by naming themselves ARKAI—“leaders,” in ancient Greek. Their name is spot on: Just six years later, this groundbreaking, electroacoustic duo has received many accolades, performed worldwide, and collaborated with some of the biggest artists in the music industry. This summer, they released their debut album, Crossroads, funded in part through CMA’s 2023 Artistic Projects grant program. 

In time for the application period of CMA’s 2025 Artistic Projects grant program, we caught up with the grantees to learn more about the duo’s history and evolution, their debut album Crossroads, and a recent heartwarming experience on the road.  

Your violin and cello look rather different from regular string instruments. Are they electric, acoustic, or a mix of both? 

We play on both acoustic and electric string instruments, and combine them alongside other layers of technology and production to create our unique electroacoustic sound. While we started out solely playing acoustic instruments from our classical roots, it was evident that our musical imagination often exceeded the capabilities of our instruments. That meant that our arrangements and original compositions resorted to pushing our instruments to their absolute limits. Ultimately, our curiosity for new modes of musical expression led us to explore electric string instruments, live sound processing, and extensive music production elements. As we explored using these tools, we discovered how we could realize our creative imagination in even more authentic and dynamic ways. We can now transform our string instruments from their beautiful, pure tones into expansive palettes of new timbral colors, engulfed in oceans of peaceful synths, headbanging grooves, orchestral majesty—or anything in between.   

You both attended Juilliard, a school which is often associated with a more traditional pathway in music. How did your time there shape your interest in forging a career that hasn’t been solely set in tradition? 

We both spent many years at Juilliard, and up until that point, our entire lives followed a very traditional pathway. We’re so grateful for the years of rigor, discipline, excellence, work ethic, and community that Juilliard offered us. But in our own ways, we utilized those resources to pursue our curiosities outside standard curriculum. Jonathan’s passion for management and entrepreneurship led him to self-produce a world music festival, while Philip’s love for new music and technology led him to commission more than 80 pieces from composition students and to take every single class on music technology that Juilliard offered. We also learned so much outside of school by following our curiosities and passions, sometimes through real-world experiences, and sometimes through studying YouTube tutorials. The way we see it now, Juilliard’s training provided a solid foundation, but it was our personal passions and self-starter mentalities that enabled us to dream big and to dream beyond the path that was laid out for us.  

You just released your Artistic Projects 2023 grant-funded piece, your debut album, Crossroads. What is this album about and what can a first-time listener of ARKAI expect to hear? 

Crossroads is about the journey of discovering one’s voice, overcoming adversity, and embracing new dreams. It’s an all-original, all-electric record that takes listeners on a journey from soothing ambiance to thunderous riffs and epic symphonic finales. It really is our story depicted through music—the moments of courage, resilience, vulnerability, reflection, and resolve. We believe that we’re doing something that hasn’t ever quite been done before in the string world. And while we have received incredible support and encouragement over the years, it’s a journey that hasn’t always been easy—not fitting into any of the boxes, being mischaracterized with labels and preconceptions, and having colleagues, friends and mentors casting silent and backhanded judgments. Nevertheless, it’s in those moments of decision and courage and those crossroads of life that we can choose the path that leads us forward and towards the fullest realization of our potential and a vibrant and hopeful future.  

Do you have a favorite piece on Crossroads?

While it’s impossible to single out a favorite track, one stands out for the story of how it came to be. The marquee track of the record is a piece that we call Letters. We originally wrote it during the height of COVID. Separated from one another and unable to compose in the same space as we were accustomed to, we had to find a new way to create music together. We eventually fell into a flow where we record compositional ideas on our phones and send them back and forth to one another, building upon and refining the ideas with each successive message. These audio “letters” created the initial version of the composition. We were striving to not only encapsulate the feeling of the moment—isolation, uncertainty, anger, and tragedy—but also to look towards the hopeful future that we longed for. This piece became a staple of our repertoire and, especially in the months and years emerging from the pandemic, it carried a layer of memory, meaning, and deep connection to the audiences for whom we played.  

I saw on social media that you are taking your album on the road! I know you’ve done a lot of touring previously, so I’m curious if you have a favorite tour story? 

We are indeed gearing up for a very full album release tour that will take us all over the country, as well as to a few stops abroad! We have too many crazy travel stories to share, but one that remains a highlight was an opportunity that we had earlier this year performing at the Abu Dhabi Culture Summit on behalf of the Recording Academy (GRAMMYs). It was an incredible honor to be there among heads of state, cultural leaders, and entertainment titans who were gathered to discuss and unify around promoting the role of culture in our global societies. And while we all know the cliche that music is a universal language, it was a truly moving experience to share our music— from rocking covers of American pop bands to through-composed original works—and receive a standing ovation from a global audience with whom music truly was our common language. 

What would you suggest to someone who is debating attending a CMA event or our conference for the first time?  

Do it! You never know who you might meet, and what moment could change your life. We’ve met so many incredible people at CMA who have been part of our journey for years. We first attended CMA together in 2019…and now look!   

Do you have any advice for ensembles applying for our Artistic Projects program or any of our CMA grant programs? 

Dare to dream outside of the box. We need more artists and ensembles that are thinking differently and defining a new path within the industry. CMA is an incredible treasure trove of resources, community, and opportunities—get to know all of what it can offer and make your move!  

And we have to ask… If ARKAI was a sandwich, which would it be and why?  

There’s an incredible sandwich shop in Philly called Paesano’s that we once stumbled into while on tour. They start by using some of the highest-end Italian ingredients and fresh produce, and then give their sandwiches a twist by drawing influence from different cuisines and cultures. What’s left at the end is an epic fusion of yum that takes you on a culinary experience. We’d like to think that we’re the musical equivalent of that with our classical chops, incorporation of technology, and inspiration drawn from the progressive mainstream, all merging to create a dynamic musical journey.

Check out ARKAI on Instagram @arkaimusic and Facebook @arkaimusicofficial. To find out what else they are up to and to find a tour stop near you, visit their website arkaimusic.com 

Learn more about CMA’s 2025 Artistic Projects grant program here.