Time for Three

Grammy and Emmy-winning ensemble Time for Three (TF3) defies convention and boundaries with their singular sound that seamlessly blends classical, Americana, and singer-songwriter traditions. Consisting of Ranaan Meyer (double bass, vocals), Nicolas “Nick” Kendall (violin, vocals) and Charles Yang (violin, vocals), the trio has earned international acclaim for its charismatic performances, breathtaking virtuosity, and fearless approach to music-making that expands typical perceptions of a string trio.

Time for Three’s relationships with major orchestras and conductors continue to flourish, including appearances this season with the Dallas Symphony and Kevin John Edusei, New World Symphony and Stéphane Denève, and Naples Philharmonic and Stephanie Childress. The trio has made multiple appearances with the San Francisco Symphony and Philadelphia Orchestra, and has also performed with the Louisville Orchestra, Boston Pops, St. Louis Symphony, Nashville Symphony, Colorado Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Shanghai Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, Czech Philharmonic, among others. They served as Artist-In-Residence with the Indianapolis Symphony for over a decade. They have been championed by conductors including Marin Alsop, Keith Lockhart, Teddy Abrams, Krzysztof Urbanski, James Gaffigan, Lio Kuokman, and Sir Simon Rattle, who called them “three benevolent monsters…of ability and technique surely…but also conveyors of an infectious joy that I find both touching and moving.” 

Time for Three has commissioned and premiered works by many of today’s most celebrated composers, including Kevin Puts, Mason Bates, Jennifer Higdon, William Bolcolm, and Chris Brubeck. Their newest commission, As I Breathe by Drama Desk Award-winning Michael Thurber, premiered at Festival Napa Valley in July 2026. TF3 has ushered these new works into the programming of leading orchestras around the world, reflecting the ensemble's commitment to expanding the possibilities of the modern concerto.

TF3’s collaboration with Kevin Puts on the concerto Contact earned the trio its first Grammy Award in 2023, in the category of Best Classical Instrumental Solo. The work was recorded with the Philadelphia Orchestra and Xian Zhang, alongside Jennifer Higdon’s composition for the trio (Concerto 4-3), and released on the Deutsche Grammophon label. TF3’s collaboration with Mason Bates was recently recorded with the Louisville Orchestra and Teddy Abrams for future release.

In 2025, Time for Three and Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato premiered Kevin Puts’ Emily–No Prisoner Be, a song cycle set to the poetry of Emily Dicknson. Released on the Platoon label in January 2026, the recording was celebrated with performances on Good Morning America and New York’s WQXR, followed by the inaugural tour which included performances at Carnegie Hall, Berkeley’s Zellerbach Hall, and Chicago’s Symphony Center.

Beyond the classical concert hall, Time for Three has enjoyed additional collaborations with a wide range of artists including Ben Folds, Branford Marsalis, Aoife O'Donovan, Natasha Bedingfield, and Arlo Guthrie. They teamed up with Grammy Award-winning songwriter Liz Rose and producer Femke Weidema for new recordings released through Warner Music, and contributed to Summer Walker's R&B hit, “Constant Bullsxxt.”

The trio’s spirit of collaboration has also led to new experiences in the film and dance worlds.  They joined cellist and composer Ben Sollee to create the soundtrack for Focus Features' film Land, directed by Robin Wright and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. They additionally worked with choreographer Lauren Lovette and the Paul Taylor Dance Company for special performances at Lincoln Center, featuring Kevin Puts’ Contact and Bach’s Chaconne in Winter, arranged for the trio by Steve Hackman. 

Time for Three’s solo shows have been praised for their “joy, mastery, creativity and supreme artistry” (The Strad), interweaving original songs with imaginative arrangements of beloved classical and mainstream works. As observed by NPR, “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 PBS concert special, Time for Three In Concert, earned the trio an Emmy Award.

Both on and off stage, TF3 is committed to encouraging the next generation of musicians. Their “Joy Onstage” initiative invites local student musicians to join them as part of their performances. With specially created parts for young string players and choirs, the experience provides young musicians with a memorable artistic opportunity while creating a shared moment of community celebration for performers and audiences alike. TF3 regularly leads masterclasses, workshops and musical conversations, and has been welcomed for multi-day residencies at universities, conservatories, and youth orchestras.

Time for Three was founded in 2003 by Nick Kendall, Ranaan Meyer, and former member Zachary DePue while they were students at the Curtis Institute of Music. In 2016, Charles Yang, a graduate of The Juilliard School, joined the trio, ushering in a new chapter that has seen TF3 establish itself as one of today’s most innovative and celebrated ensembles.