Performances
& Events

ACO presents its 2026 Gala & Creative Catalyst Awards on October 27, 2026 at Carnegie Hall, held immediately preceding our performance of Hello America: We Gather Here.

We are delighted to honor composer Thea Musgrave and TD Regional President Metro New York Ralph Bumbaca, and we hope you will join us for an inspiring evening celebrating music, leadership, and community.The evening will begin at 5:30pm with pre-concert cocktails and dinner in the Weill Terrace Room, followed by the performance in Zankel Hall at 7:30pm. The celebration will conclude with a post-concert dessert reception in the Weill Terrace Room.

Featuring new works by Alex Weiser, Mali Irene, Daniel Bernard Roumain, Alex Timofeev, and Oswald Huỳnh, alongside Song of the Enchanter by honoree Thea Musgrave, this evening-long celebration of creativity supports ACO's national EarShot composer advancement programs, orchestral performances, and educational initiatives.
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Ticketing and sponsorship details are available at the link below. For assistance securing your attendance, please contact Syleste Alexander at syleste@americancomposers.org. We look forward to celebrating with you!

PERFORMANCES & CREATIVE EXPERIENCES BY‍

Kedrick Armstrong
Andrzej Ciepliński
Mali Irene
Thea Musgrave
Daniel Bernard Roumain
Tracy Silverman
Alex Timofeev
Oswald Huỳnh
Vân-Ánh Vanessa Võ
Alex Weiser

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Gala Chairs: 

Ekaterina Sokolova

Philip Webb

Honorary Committee

Ray Chew and Vivian Scott Chew

Jimmy López

Erin Norton

Carlos Simon

Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate

Lucrecia Zappi and Lawrence Luhring

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Gala Committee:

as of August 31, 2026

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CORPORATE SPONSOR

TD Bank
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PRIME BENEFACTORS

CANVAS

Koret Foundation

Monteverdi Tuscany
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BENEFACTORS

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

Matthew Keesan*

Melin Tan-Geller* & David Geller

UJA-Federation of New York

André J. Washington*
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PRIME PATRON

Augusta Gross* and Leslie Samuels

Mark Sullivan & Jim St. George

Philip Webb*

Frederick Wertheim & Angelo Chan
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PATRON

Jonathan Bailey Holland

Chelsea Duggan

Marisa Eisemann

Diana Elton

Susan Feder

Corey Goodman

Rosemarie Helmbrech

Sunny Kang

Ilya Karaulov*

Tess Mateo*

David Mazza

Andrea Miller

George Miller

Peggy Monastra

Cate Moye*

Yimin Ngan & Patricia Saich

Wende Persons

Priyanjali Sen

Shadawn Smith

Ekaterina Sokolova*

Judith Thoyer

Brian Waters*

Martin Watkins

Richard Weinert*
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Supporters

Derek Bermel*

Jane Cavalier*

Corey Field

Debra Kaye

Kettles and Company

The DiMenna Center for Classical Music

The Kościuszko Foundation

Tim Mar

Melissa Ngan*

Vanessa Rose

Karen Slack*

Edward Smaldone

Toyin Spellman-Diaz*

Geoffroy van Raemdonck*

Melinda Wagner*

Lisa Evanson Washburn*

Ian White-Thomson

Shinian Ye*
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*indicates ACO Board Member

October 27, 2026 at 7:30 PM

Hello, America: We Gather Here
American Composers Orchestra
Zankel Hall, Carnegie Hall | New York City, NY

Kedrick Armstrong, Conductor
Tracy Silverman, Electric Violin
Vân-Ánh Vanessa Võ, Đàn Bầu and Đàn Tranh
Andrzej Ciepliński, Clarinet
Mali Irene, Vocals
Sidney Hopson, Percussion
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Program
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MALI IRENE Deliverance for Orchestra and Community Music Making (World Premiere, co-commissioned by Carnegie Hall)
THEA MUSGRAVE Song of the Enchanter
OSWALD HUỲNH ngủ ngon for Vietnamese Traditional Instruments and Orchestra (World Premiere)
ALEXANDER TIMOFEEV Fantasme No. 2 (World Premiere)
ALEX WEISER Tfiles for Clarinet and Orchestra (US Premiere)
DANIEL BERNARD ROUMAIN America, To US? for Electric Violin and Orchestra (NY Premiere)
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This performance is supported by CANVAS, the Koret Foundation, the Kosciuszko Foundation, and UJA Federation New York. 

Andrzej Ciepliński’s participation in this concert is generously supported by the Polish Cultural Institute New York, the American Friends of POLIN Museum (AFoPM) / Association of the Jewish Historical Institute (SZIH), and the Adam Mickiewicz Institute (IAM).

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REGISTRATION LINK
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October 28, 2026 at 3:30 PM

CoLABoratory Workshop

American Composers Orchestra

DiMenna Center for Classical Music | New York, NY

Featured Artists and Works:

Malachi Brown, From Birth.

October 28, 2026

EarShot Readings: Tucson Symphony Orchestra

University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ

Conductor

José Luis Gómez

‍Mentor Composers

Vincent Calianno

Dan Coleman

Jimmy López
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‍Featured Artists and Works

Aidan Vass, Spilling 

Marie Blix, Terra Fungorum* 

Adam Harrington, Fireworks

David Vess,  Perpetual Dream Machine

*This work was created under the auspices of UNAM through the Cátedra Extraordinaria "Arturo Márquez" de Composición Musical 2022.

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December 5, 2026 at 7:30 PM

Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert

Hilary Purrington, Words for Departure

Light in Winter

Mankato Symphony Orchestra

Good Counsel Chapel | Mankato, MN

Ernesto Estigarribia Mussi, conductor

The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program: American Composers Orchestra and League of American Orchestras have established a new repeat performances initiative that will support additional presentations of previously commissioned works by the 16 composers from the original 2014-2019 cohort of program participants. The repeat performances will occur throughout the 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons and will feature a new roster of 16 participating orchestras.

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Words for Departure was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.

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December 5, 2026 at 8:00pm
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ACO performs as the orchestra for A Night of Inspiration, an uplifting, joyful evening of music, dance, and spoken word from diverse traditions, featuring an all-star lineup of artists under the direction of Ray Chew – acclaimed composer, producer, and music director of Dancing with the Stars, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Showtime at the Apollo, and more – with co-producer Vivian Scott Chew.

February 13, 2027 at 7:00 PM

Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert

Niloufar Iravani, Reflections

Free Spirit

Valdosta Symphony Orchestra

Whitehead Auditorium | Valdosta, GA

Howard Hsu, conductor
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The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program: American Composers Orchestra and League of American Orchestras have established a new repeat performances initiative that will support additional presentations of previously commissioned works by the 16 composers from the original 2014-2019 cohort of program participants. The repeat performances will occur throughout the 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons and will feature a new roster of 16 participating orchestras.

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

March 17, 2027 at 4:30 PM

CoLABoratory Workshop

American Composers Orchestra

DiMenna Center for Classical Music | New York, NY

Featured Artists and Works:

Marie A. Douglas, New Work

Thursday, March 18, 2027 at 7:30 PM

New Virtuoso: Low End Theory

American Composers Orchestra

Zankel Hall, Carnegie Hall | New York City, NY

Jordan Bak, Viola 

Tommy Mesa, Cello 

José Luis Gomez, Conductor 

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Program

STEPHEN HARTKE Da Pacem for Cello and Orchestra (NY Premiere)

MALACHI BROWN From Birth. (World Premiere)

HORACIO FERNÁNDEZ Sinfonía Tumbada (World Premiere)

MICHAEL FRAZIER los quetzales for Viola and Orchestra (NY Premiere)

LAURA ORTMAN Unsurrenderable Glisten of the Ices for Orchestra and Electronics (World Premiere)

March 19, 2027 at 4:30 PM

CoLABoratory Workshop

American Composers Orchestra

DiMenna Center for Classical Music | New York, NY

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April 3, 2027 at 7:30 PM

Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert

Marina López, Moño

Crouching Tiger Concerto

Arkansas Symphony Orchestra

Robinson Center | Little Rock, AR

TBD, conductor
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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.

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

April 4, 2027 at 3:00 PM

Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert

Marina López, Moño

Crouching Tiger Concerto

Arkansas Symphony Orchestra

Robinson Center | Little Rock, AR

TBD, conductor
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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.

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

April 10, 2027 at 7:30 PM

Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert

Andrea Reinkemeyer, Water Sings Fire

Beethoven 7 + Jacqueline Tso Plays Butterfly Lovers’ Concerto

Greenville Symphony

Peace Concert Hall | Greenville, SC

Lee Mills, conductor
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The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program: American Composers Orchestra and League of American Orchestras have established a new repeat performances initiative that will support additional presentations of previously commissioned works by the 16 composers from the original 2014-2019 cohort of program participants. The repeat performances will occur throughout the 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons and will feature a new roster of 16 participating orchestras.

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Water Sings Fire was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.

April 11, 2027 at 3:00 PM

Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert

Andrea Reinkemeyer, Water Sings Fire

Beethoven 7 + Jacqueline Tso Plays Butterfly Lovers’ Concerto

Greenville Symphony

Peace Concert Hall | Greenville, SC

Lee Mills, conductor
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The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program: American Composers Orchestra and League of American Orchestras have established a new repeat performances initiative that will support additional presentations of previously commissioned works by the 16 composers from the original 2014-2019 cohort of program participants. The repeat performances will occur throughout the 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons and will feature a new roster of 16 participating orchestras.

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Water Sings Fire was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.

April 24, 2027 at Time TBD

Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert

Stacy Garrop, CHROMA

Symphony in Color

Johnstown Symphony Orchestra

Venue TBD | Johnstown, PA

TBD, conductor
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The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program: American Composers Orchestra and League of American Orchestras have established a third national consortium, featuring three new commissions of full-length, 25- to 30-minute concert works. World premieres and repeat performances of the new works by a consortium of nine orchestras will occur during the 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons.

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