Past Events

Moni Jasmine Guo, the sound of where i came from (乡音 Xiāng Yīn)‍‍

‍

‍Heartsong: Mendelssohn, Guo, & Rachmaninoff‍

Lexington Philharmonic

Singletary Center for the Arts | Lexington, KY

Link: https://lexphil.org/heartsong‍

‍

Program

MONI JASMINE GUO, the sound of where i came from (乡音 Xiāng Yīn)

FELIX MENDELSSOHN, Violin Concerto

SERGEI RACHMANINOFF, Symphony No. 2

Mélisse Brunet, conductor
Tai Murray, violin
‍
‍The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program: American Composers Orchestra and League of American Orchestras have established two 30-orchestra consortiums, each supporting commissions by six women and nonbinary EarShot alumni. Each composer writes a 6–8 minute orchestral work and develops an educational or community-focused program presented in partnership with each orchestra. In the 2025–26 season, composers have their works performed by nineteen orchestras across the U.S.
‍
‍the sound of where i came from (乡音 Xiāng Yīn) was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.

Singletary Center for the Arts

November

2025

7:30 pm

Virginia B. Toulmin Commission by Moni Jasmine Guo with Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Moni Jasmine Guo, the sound of where i came from (乡音 Xiāng Yīn)

Luisi Conducts Mozart‍

Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center | Dallas, TX

Link: https://www.dallassymphony.org/productions/luisi-conducts-mozart/

Program

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN, Leonore Overture No. 3
JON CZINER, Clarinet Concerto (World Premiere)
MONI JASMINE GUO, the sound of where i came from (乡音 Xiāng Yīn)
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART, Symphony No. 40 in G minor

Fabio Luisi, conductor
Gregory Raden, clarinet

‍‍The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program: American Composers Orchestra and League of American Orchestras have established two 30-orchestra consortiums, each supporting commissions by six women and nonbinary EarShot alumni. Each composer writes a 6–8 minute orchestral work and develops an educational or community-focused program presented in partnership with each orchestra. In the 2025–26 season, composers have their works performed by nineteen orchestras across the U.S.
‍
‍the sound of where i came from (乡音 Xiāng Yīn) was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.

Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center

November

2025

7:30 pm

Virginia B. Toulmin Commission by Moni Jasmine Guo with Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Moni Jasmine Guo, the sound of where i came from (乡音 Xiāng Yīn)

Luisi Conducts Mozart‍

Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center | Dallas, TX

Link: https://www.dallassymphony.org/productions/luisi-conducts-mozart/

Program

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN, Leonore Overture No. 3
JON CZINER, Clarinet Concerto (World Premiere)
MONI JASMINE GUO, the sound of where i came from (乡音 Xiāng Yīn)
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART, Symphony No. 40 in G minor

Fabio Luisi, conductor
Gregory Raden, clarinet
‍
‍The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program: American Composers Orchestra and League of American Orchestras have established two 30-orchestra consortiums, each supporting commissions by six women and nonbinary EarShot alumni. Each composer writes a 6–8 minute orchestral work and develops an educational or community-focused program presented in partnership with each orchestra. In the 2025–26 season, composers have their works performed by nineteen orchestras across the U.S.

‍the sound of where i came from (乡音 Xiāng Yīn) was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.

Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center

November

2025

7:30 pm

Virginia B. Toulmin Commission by Moni Jasmine Guo with Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Moni Jasmine Guo, the sound of where i came from (乡音 Xiāng Yīn)

Luisi Conducts Mozart‍

Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center | Dallas, TX

Link: https://www.dallassymphony.org/productions/luisi-conducts-mozart/

Program

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN, Leonore Overture No. 3
JON CZINER, Clarinet Concerto (World Premiere)
MONI JASMINE GUO, the sound of where i came from (乡音 Xiāng Yīn)
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART, Symphony No. 40 in G minor

Fabio Luisi, conductor
Gregory Raden, clarinet

‍‍The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program: American Composers Orchestra and League of American Orchestras have established two 30-orchestra consortiums, each supporting commissions by six women and nonbinary EarShot alumni. Each composer writes a 6–8 minute orchestral work and develops an educational or community-focused program presented in partnership with each orchestra. In the 2025–26 season, composers have their works performed by nineteen orchestras across the U.S.

‍the sound of where i came from (乡音 Xiāng Yīn) was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.

Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center

November

2025

2:00 pm

EarShot Readings: National Arts Centre Orchestra

Ottawa, Ontario
‍

Link TBA
‍

Henry Kennedy, conductor

Featured Artists and Works:
Luis Ramirez, Chido

Brian Awad, Claveles de Pasión

Inga Chinilina, Pagan Peal

Kathryn Knowles, A Strange and Preposterous Affair

Mentor Composers:

Ana Sokolovic

Ian Cusson

Kelly-Marie Murphy

National Arts Centre

November

2025

10:00 am

EarShot Readings: National Arts Centre Orchestra

Ottawa, Ontario

Link TBA

Henry Kennedy, conductor

Featured Artists and Works:
Luis Ramirez, Chido

Brian Awad, Claveles de Pasión

Inga Chinilina, Pagan Peal

Kathryn Knowles, A Strange and Preposterous Affair

Mentor Composers:

Ana Sokolovic

Ian Cusson

Kelly-Marie Murphy

National Arts Centre

November

2025

11:00 am

EarShot Readings: National Arts Centre Orchestra

Ottawa, Ontario

Link TBA

Henry Kennedy, conductor

Featured Artists and Works:
Luis Ramirez, Chido

Brian Awad, Claveles de Pasión

Inga Chinilina, Pagan Peal

Kathryn Knowles, A Strange and Preposterous Affair

Mentor Composers:

Ana Sokolovic

Ian Cusson

Kelly-Marie Murphy

National Arts Centre

November

2025

3:00 pm

Virginia B. Toulmin Commission by Karena Ingram with Orchestra Nova Northwest

Karena Ingram, RAINN

Inner Landscapes: Depths of Expression‍

Orchestra Nova Northwest

The Patricia Reser Center for the Arts | Beaverton, OR (Nov 16 at 3:00 PM)

Link: https://novanw.org/events/inner-landscapes-depths-of-expression/

Program

KARENA INGRAM, RAINN

LŪCIJA GARŪTA, Piano Concerto in F-sharp Minor

ANTONIN DVORAK, Symphony No. 8 in G Major
‍
‍‍The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program: American Composers Orchestra and League of American Orchestras have established two 30-orchestra consortiums, each supporting commissions by six women and nonbinary EarShot alumni. Each composer writes a 6–8 minute orchestral work and develops an educational or community-focused program presented in partnership with each orchestra. In the 2025–26 season, composers have their works performed by nineteen orchestras across the U.S.
‍
‍RAINN was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.

The Patricia Reser Center for the Arts

November

2025

7:30 pm

Virginia B. Toulmin Commission by Karena Ingram with Orchestra Nova Northwest

Karena Ingram, RAINN

Inner Landscapes: Depths of Expression‍

Orchestra Nova Northwest

Roosevelt High School | North Portland, OR (Nov 15 at 7:30 PM)

Link: https://novanw.org/events/inner-landscapes-depths-of-expression/

Program

KARENA INGRAM, RAINN

LŪCIJA GARŪTA, Piano Concerto in F-sharp Minor

ANTONIN DVORAK, Symphony No. 8 in G Major
‍
‍The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program: American Composers Orchestra and League of American Orchestras have established two 30-orchestra consortiums, each supporting commissions by six women and nonbinary EarShot alumni. Each composer writes a 6–8 minute orchestral work and develops an educational or community-focused program presented in partnership with each orchestra. In the 2025–26 season, composers have their works performed by nineteen orchestras across the U.S.
‍
‍RAINN was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.

Roosevelt High School

Link: https://secure.givelively.org/event/american-composers-orchestra/colaboratory-workshop-joseph-c-phillips-jr

October

2025

3:30 pm

CoLABoratory Workshop - Joseph C. Phillips Jr.

‍‍
Featured Artists and Works

Joseph C. Phillips Jr., We Hold These Truths to Be Self-Evident

Link: https://www.carnegiehall.org/Cart/Event-Seating?itemNumber=49300#/

October

2025

7:30 pm

The New Virtuoso: For Art's Sake

The New Virtuoso: For Art’s Sake features works that utilize newly created instruments and sonic media to explore symphonic texture. Spanning the use of sculptures that move and sonically react to their environments; graphic scores; gestural conduction; a survey of contemporary techniques for traditional instruments; the fashioning of instruments based on composers’ unique cultural backgrounds, these artists’ sense of design propels them into new compositional spaces.

‍

Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at 7:30 PM

American Composers Orchestra

Zankel Hall, Carnegie Hall | New York City, NY

‍

Mélisse Brunet, Conductor

Lucy Fitz Gibbon, Soprano

Daniel Rozin, Responsive Sculptures

Daniel Kramer, Libretto

The New Virtuoso: For Art's Sake

RAVEN CHACON, Inscription (NY Premiere, ACO Co-commission, developed via EarShot CoLABoratory) 15'

TAMAR MUSKAL, Square Off for voice, interactive kinetic sculpture and orchestra (World Premiere, ACO Commission) 20'
ELIJAH DANIEL SMITH, The Fall of Ideals (World Premiere, ACO Commission) 15'

MAZZ SWIFT, Memory FIVE: Freedom Initiate for Conductrix and Orchestra (ACO Commission, developed via EarShot CoLABoratory, World Premiere) 10'

AARON ISRAEL LEVIN, Lear in the storm (ACO Commission, World Premiere) 10'

Carnegie Hall

October

2025

7:30 pm

Virginia B. Toulmin Commission by Chelsea Komschlies with Vermont Symphony Orchestra

Chelsea Komschlies, Mycelialore

VSO at the Flynn: Pastoral Symphony

Vermont Symphony Orchestra

Flynn Center | Burlington, VT

Link: https://www.vso.org/vso-event/pastoral-symphony/
‍
Program

WILLIAM GRANT STILL, Wood Notes

CHELSEA KOMSCHLIES, Mycelialore

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN, Symphony No. 6, “Pastoral”

‍‍The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program: American Composers Orchestra and League of American Orchestras have established two 30-orchestra consortiums, each supporting commissions by six women and nonbinary EarShot alumni. Each composer writes a 6–8 minute orchestral work and develops an educational or community-focused program presented in partnership with each orchestra. In the 2025–26 season, composers have their works performed by nineteen orchestras across the U.S.
‍
‍Mycelialore was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.

Flynn Center

October

2025

7:30 pm

Virginia B. Toulmin Commission by Karena Ingram with Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra

Karena Ingram, RAINN
‍
An American In Paris

Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra

Orpheum Theater | New Orleans, LA

Link: https://lpomusic.com/events/os03-paris-oct23

Program

JAMES LEE III, Concerto in A

DUKE ELLINGTON, New World A-Comin’

LEONARD BERNSTEIN, On the Town: Three Dance Episodes

KARENA INGRAM, RAINN

GEORGE GERSHWIN, American In Paris‍

Matthew Kraemer, conductor

Jeffrey Biegel, piano

‍‍The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program: American Composers Orchestra and League of American Orchestras have established two 30-orchestra consortiums, each supporting commissions by six women and nonbinary EarShot alumni. Each composer writes a 6–8 minute orchestral work and develops an educational or community-focused program presented in partnership with each orchestra. In the 2025–26 season, composers have their works performed by nineteen orchestras across the U.S.
‍
‍RAINN was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.

Orpheum Theate

October

2025

7:30 pm

Reloading the Canon: World Premiere of Michael Frazier’s Viola Concerto los quetzales with Jordan Bak, viola

Eastman School of Music | Rochester, NY

Link: https://events.rochester.edu/event/eastman-school-symphony-orchestra-6358?n=138

Michael Frazier, composer

Jordan Bak, viola

Eastman School of Music | Rochester, NY

Link: https://events.rochester.edu/event/eastman-school-symphony-orchestra-6358?n=138

Michael Frazier, composer

Jordan Bak, viola

Eastman School of Music

October

2025

7:30 pm

Virginia B. Toulmin Commission by Meilina Tsui with Knoxville Symphony Orchestra

Meilina Tsui, Floridian Symphony
‍
Elgar Cello Concerto

Knoxville Symphony Orchestra

Tennessee Theatre | Knoxville, TN

Link: https://knoxvillesymphony.com/concert/elgar-cello-concerto/

Program

MEILINA TSUI, Floridian Symphony

EDWARD ELGAR, Cello Concerto

IGOR STRAVINSKY, Petrushka

‍Aram Demirjian, conductor

Zlatomir Fung, cello

‍‍The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program: American Composers Orchestra and League of American Orchestras have established two 30-orchestra consortiums, each supporting commissions by six women and nonbinary EarShot alumni. Each composer writes a 6–8 minute orchestral work and develops an educational or community-focused program presented in partnership with each orchestra. In the 2025–26 season, composers have their works performed by nineteen orchestras across the U.S.

‍Floridian Symphony was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.

Tennessee Theatre

October

2025

7:30 pm

Virginia B. Toulmin Commission by Meilina Tsui with Knoxville Symphony Orchestra

Meilina Tsui, Floridian Symphony
‍
Elgar Cello Concerto

Knoxville Symphony Orchestra

Tennessee Theatre | Knoxville, TN

Link: https://knoxvillesymphony.com/concert/elgar-cello-concerto/

Program

MEILINA TSUI, Floridian Symphony

EDWARD ELGAR, Cello Concerto

IGOR STRAVINSKY, Petrushka

‍Aram Demirjian, conductor

Zlatomir Fung, cello

‍‍The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program: American Composers Orchestra and League of American Orchestras have established two 30-orchestra consortiums, each supporting commissions by six women and nonbinary EarShot alumni. Each composer writes a 6–8 minute orchestral work and develops an educational or community-focused program presented in partnership with each orchestra. In the 2025–26 season, composers have their works performed by nineteen orchestras across the U.S.
‍
‍Floridian Symphony was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.

Tennessee Theatre

October

2025

6:00 pm

Searchlight: 2025 Gala and Creative Catalyst Awards

6 PM Cocktail Hour

7 PM- 9PM Dinner & Performances

‍

‍RSVP by 9/30

‍

Proceeds benefit ACO EarShot composer advancement programs, orchestral performances, and educational initiatives.

In every era of uncertainty, artists and visionaries have been the true searchlights — illuminating new paths forward when the world needs them most. Join us for a celebration honoring two luminary couples who exemplify our core values of artistry, creativity, community, and equity.

Immerse yourself in a genre-bending experience rooted in Prohibition Era rebellion and Gatsby-esque opulence. This gathering of artists and their champions is a celebration of artistic disruption and all the good trouble that may come!

This musical evening will honor the past, inspire the present, and light the way for the future, while supporting our American composers through ACO's national EarShot composer advancement programs, orchestral performances, and educational initiatives.

‍

‍

HONOREES

Ray & Vivian Chew

Elizabeth & Justus Schlichting

‍

GALA CHAIRS

Diana Elton

Melin Tan-Geller

‍

‍

HONORARY COMMITTEE

In formation

Raven Chacon

Philip Glass

George Lewis

Meredith Monk

Huang Ruo

Shanta Thake

Joan Tower

‍

GALA COMMITTEE

In formation

‍

ICON

Thomas Brener* and Inbal Segev

Augusta Gross* and Leslie Samuels

Matthew Keesan*

Justus and Elizabeth Schlichting

Melin Tan-Geller* and David Geller

Marilyn Go* and Richard Dolan, Schlam, Stone, & Dolan LLP

‍

MAVERICK

Ray and Vivian Chew

Diana Elton

Ilya Karaulov*

Frederick Wertheim and Angelo Chan

MUSE

‍Alberta Arthurs

Tess Mateo* and Gary Brewster

George and Andrea Miller

Cate Moye

Steinway and Sons

Judith R. and Michael E. Thoyer

EXPLORER

Patricia Barksdale

Astrid and John Baumgardner

Atif Bhanjee*

Lillian Z. Bender Fund

Scott Dunn* and Robbie Moray

Marisa Eisemann

Susan Feder and Todd Gordon

Michael Fehrman* and Andrea Luciano

Jonathan Bailey Holland*

Annette McEvoy* and Harold Bronheim

Yimin Ngan and Patricia Saich

Wende Persons

Dennis Powers

Norman Ryan

Deborah Steinglass and Al Giammarinaro

Melinda Wagner* and Jim Saporito

Jess Ting*

Dionne Warwick

Lisa Evanson Washburn*

André Washington*

Brian Waters*

Philip Webb

Richard Weinert*

Shinian Ye* and Cathy Huang

SUPPORTERS

Mashey Bernstein

Anthony and Kathleen Calabrese

Jane Cavalier*

Valentine Chmerkovsky

NancyBell Coe

Ruth Eliel

Corey Field

Marc Giosi

Eric Hutcherson

Will Kerlick, Center Staging

Ron Lipuma

Tim Mar, Concert Artists Guild

Patricio Molina

Dominique Pasols

Azi Schwartz

Kenny Seymour

Sean Statser, Kettles & Co.

JoAnn Tominaga

Theodore Wiprud

* Indicates ACO Board Member

‍

SPONSORSHIP & TICKETS

Purchase your tickets before the event.

‍

Visionary $25,000

8 Premiere tickets to the dinner & performance with priority table placement; includes placement of two guest artists at your table, if desired
Inside Gala Journal Cover Ad (full color)
Recognition as an official sponsor of The New Virtuoso: For Art’s Sake ACO’s October 29, 2025 concert at Carnegie Hall
8 VIP tickets to ACO’s The New Virtuoso: For Art’s Sake concert at Carnegie Hall, plus invite to exclusive post-show reception

$23,000 of this purchase is tax-deductible

‍

Icon $10,000

8 VIP tickets to the dinner & performance with preferred table placement; includes placement of two guest artists at your table, if desired

Full-page Gala Journal Ad (B&W)
Recognition as an official sponsor of The New Virtuoso: For Art’s Sake, ACO’s October 29, 2025 concert at Carnegie Hall

4 VIP tickets to ACO’s The New Virtuoso: For Art’s Sake concert at Carnegie Hall, plus invite to exclusive post-show reception

$8,000 of this purchase is tax-deductible

‍

Maverick $5,000

4 VIP tickets to the dinner & performance, with select table placement, includes placement of one guest artist at your table, if desired
Listing in Gala Journal

Invitation to a special ACO insider event

$4,000 of this purchase is tax-deductible

‍

Muse $1,500

1 VIP ticket to the dinner & performance with select seating
Listing in Gala Journal

Invitation to a special ACO insider event

$1,250 of this purchase is tax-deductible

‍

Explorer $1000

1 VIP ticket to the dinner & performance
Listing in Gala Journal

$750 of this purchase is tax-deductible

‍

Non-Profit/Artist Ticket $300

1 VIP ticket to the dinner & performance
Listing in Gala Journal

$50 of this purchase is tax-deductible

48 Wall Street New York, NY 10005

October

2025

7:30 pm

Virginia B. Toulmin Commission by Meilina Tsui with Symphony of the Rockies

Resurrection: Mahler’s Resurrection & The Music of The Lion King

Meilina Tsui, Floridian Symphony

‍

Symphony of the Rockies

Parker Arts Culture & Events Center | Parker, CO

Link: https://www.symphonyrockies.org/events/resurrection-mahler

‍

Program

GUSTAV MAHLER, Symphony No. 2

HANS ZIMMER, The Lion King Orchestra Suite

MEILINA TSUI, Floridan Symphony

‍‍The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program: American Composers Orchestra and League of American Orchestras have established two 30-orchestra consortiums, each supporting commissions by six women and nonbinary EarShot alumni. Each composer writes a 6–8 minute orchestral work and develops an educational or community-focused program presented in partnership with each orchestra. In the 2025–26 season, composers have their works performed by nineteen orchestras across the U.S.
‍
‍Floridian Symphony was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.

Parker Arts, Culture, and Events Center

October

2025

7:30 pm

Virginia B. Toulmin Commission by Chelsea Komschlies with Lima Symphony Orchestra

Chelsea Komschlies, Mycelialore

‍

Symphonic Landscapes

Lima Symphony Orchestra

Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center | Lima, OH

Link: https://www.limasymphony.com/2025-2026-season

‍The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program: American Composers Orchestra and League of American Orchestras have established two 30-orchestra consortiums, each supporting commissions by six women and nonbinary EarShot alumni. Each composer writes a 6–8 minute orchestral work and develops an educational or community-focused program presented in partnership with each orchestra. In the 2025–26 season, composers have their works performed by nineteen orchestras across the U.S.
‍
‍Mycelialore was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.

Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center