Batch Craft Beer and Kolaches: Under the Hood with Invoke and Hila Plitmann

Each concert opens with Invoke testing the waters of their latest experiments—new works in progress, reimagined arrangements, and improvised explorations—before welcoming a special guest from Austin’s vibrant music scene or beyond. The result is part rehearsal, part jam session, and part concert, offering listeners a rare chance to witness music being made in real time.

The September edition of the series features Grammy Award-winning soprano, songwriter, and actress Hilá Plitmann. Known for her radiant voice and fearless versatility, Plitmann has performed as the featured soloist on Hollywood soundtracks such as The Da Vinci Code, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Hail Caesar, and Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. Her discography includes John Corigliano’s Mr. Tambourine Man—which earned her a Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal Performance—along with collaborations on works by Andrea Clearfield, Richard Danielpour, Eric Whitacre, and George Benjamin.

Plitmann’s artistry extends well beyond the stage. A dedicated educator, she integrates mindfulness, poetry, and even martial arts discipline into her workshops and residencies, encouraging performers to cultivate presence, confidence, and connection.

For Invoke, this kind of boundary-crossing artistry is second nature. The quartet—Nick Montopoli (violin/banjo/vocals), Zach Matteson (violin/vocals), Karl Mitze (viola/mandolin/vocals), and Geoff Manyin (cello/vocals)—has built a reputation for blending classical precision with the traditions of bluegrass, Appalachian fiddle tunes, and jazz. Described by Strings Magazine as a group that “cannot be contained by any one label,” Invoke has earned accolades including top prizes at the M-Prize International Chamber Arts Competition and the Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition.

Together, Invoke and Plitmann promise an evening of risk, discovery, and extraordinary collaboration—an experience that could only happen under the hood.

The concert is free and open to the public (beer & kolaches not included).