BOX FIVE is the brainchild of Mary Bichner, a 25-year-old composer and performer hailing from the bustling metropolis of Philadelphia, PA. Combining Mozart-inspired chord progressions and bratty Brit-rock hooks into a musical succotash she likes to call classipop, the eccentric yet loveable redhead hopes to breathe new life into the calcified world of "radio-friendly" contemporary music through her memorable melodies and solid songwriting.

Formerly a permanent ensemble, Box Five is now a solo project which allows Mary to work with a variety of musicians on her diverse compositions.

Alone or with a group, however, there's no doubt that Mary is rather peculiar. In addition to having the worst last name in the history of humankind (it's pronounced BEECHner, but nobody ever gets it right!), Mary also possesses perfect pitch (the ability to recognize notes and chords by name simply by hearing them played), and synesthesia (a bizzare neurological condition which causes Mary to "see" splashes of specific colors when she hears certain pitches sounded). Journalists seem to be rather keen on calling Mary names, attested by the fact that she has been labeled a "perfectly quirky girl", a "musical prodigy", a "band nerd" (!!), a "biological curiosity to be studied by science", a "spunky redhead", and a "keyboard playing, songwriting, mighty-morphin teenage mutant polymodal synesthete" by various members of local and international press. Fair enough -- so long as they don't start to call her "carrot-top"! :p

Box Five has released two online EPs in its brief career -- the bouncy, colorful Exercises in Modern Pop [2005]; and the sparse, spooky fen [2006] -- both of which are streamable jukebox page. You can also purchase Best Of, a compilation featuring remastered highlights from the first two Box Five EPs plus a special remix of Snow Hymn, by clicking here. :D

In addition to her work with Box Five, Mary also composes works for progressive classical music collective Arts in Motion, and croons with vocal trio Birth of Venus.

Mlle. Bichner is constantly batting her eyelashes at independent labels, and is eagerly booking a number of B5 performances in the rather near future -- so, catch her if you can! ;o)

That's the end, for now. :o)