Performances
& Events
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Melody Eötvös, Red Dirt | Silver Rain
Stanford Philharmonia
Bing Concert Hall | Stanford, CA
Paul Phillips, 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.
Red Dirt | Silver Rain was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Stacy Garrop, CHROMA
Sounds in Color: Mussorgsky, Garrop, & Puts
Lexington Philharmonic
Singletary Center for the Arts | Lexington, KY
Mélisse Brunet, conductor
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.
CHROMA was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
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.
Words for Departure was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
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
December 5, 2026 at 8:00pm
A Night of Inspiration
Ray Chew, Music Director
On Saturday, December 5 at 8:00 p.m. in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, Carnegie Hall presents A Night of Inspiration, an uplifting evening of music, dance, and spoken work from diverse traditions. Under the direction of acclaimed producer, composer, and music director Ray Chew, and co-produced with his wife and business partner, Vivian Scott Chew, the uplifting performance returns to the Hall for the sixth time. The performance features an all-star lineup including Regina Belle, Jekalyn Carr, James Hall, Lisa Knowles-Smith & The Brown Singers, Donald Lawrence, Jonathan McReynolds, Wess Morgan, Azi Schwartz, Avery Sunshine, Darrel Walls, and more. The night will also include presenting the second annual Agape Award to Pastor Shirley Caesar and a special tribute to the renowned gospel artist Maestro Richard Smallwood. Joining Night of Inspiration for the first year will be the American Composers Orchestra (ACO).
Photo credit: Jennifer Taylor
December 5, 2026 at 8:00pm
A Night of Inspiration
Ray Chew, Music Director
Photo credit: Jennifer Taylor
Led by Ray Chew, ACO performs selections from world-class artists with a special tribute to Richard Smallwood, in an uplifting evening co-produced by 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
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.
Reflections was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
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
March 14, 2027 at 3:00 PM
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Moni Jasmine Guo, the sound of where i came from (乡音 Xiāng Yīn)
Masterworks IV: Orchestra Unleashed
Bangor Symphony Orchestra
Collins Center for the Arts | Orono, ME
TBD, conductor
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.
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
March 17, 2027 at 4:30 PM
CoLABoratory Workshop
American Composers Orchestra
DiMenna Center for Classical Music | New York, NY
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
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)
Jordan Bak, Viola
Tommy Mesa, Cello
José Luis Gomez, Conductor
March 19, 2027 at 4:30 PM
CoLABoratory Workshop
American Composers Orchestra
DiMenna Center for Classical Music | New York, NY
March 19, 2027 at 4:30 PM
CoLABoratory Workshop
American Composers Orchestra
DiMenna Center for Classical Music | New York, NY
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
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.
Moño was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
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
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
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.
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
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
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.
Water Sings Fire 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
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
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.
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
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
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.
CHROMA was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
May 2, 2027 at 5:00 PM
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Xi Wang, Lotus Prayer
Concert Title TBD
Westerville Symphony
Venue TBD | Westerville, OH
TBD, 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.
Lotus Prayer was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
June 11, 2027 at 11:00 AM
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Chen-Hui Jen, in eternal dusk
Season Finale: Beethoven’s Eighth Symphony with Gábor Takács-Nagy
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
Ordway Concert Hall | Saint Paul, MN
Gábor Takács-Nagy, 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.
in eternal dusk was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
June 12, 2027 at 7:00 PM
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Chen-Hui Jen, in eternal dusk
Season Finale: Beethoven’s Eighth Symphony with Gábor Takács-Nagy
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
Ordway Concert Hall | Saint Paul, MN
Gábor Takács-Nagy, 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.
in eternal dusk was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
June 13, 2027 at 7:00 PM
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Chen-Hui Jen, in eternal dusk
Season Finale: Beethoven’s Eighth Symphony with Gábor Takács-Nagy
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
Ordway Concert Hall | Saint Paul, MN
Gábor Takács-Nagy, 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.
in eternal dusk was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
Audiences are invited to observe a collaborative session with orchestra, composers, and choreographers/dancers.The Next Festival’s 2023 Choreographer, Composer and Performance Fellows premiere new music and dance works, intermingling the world premiere of ACO EarShot compositions with a works-in-progress dance showing. This is the culmination of a week-long workshop, consisting of rehearsals, collaboration and spontaneous creation. ACO’s EarShot is the nation’s first ongoing program for creating relationships between orchestras and composers, in partnership with American Composers Forum, League of American Orchestras and New Music USA. Composer Mentors, the Pulitzer Prize and Grammy Award-winning composer Aaron Jay Kernis and “strikingly original” (The New York Times) Kamala Sankaram, along with Festival A.D. Peter Askim, will guide ACO’s Earshot Composer Fellows Michael R. Dudley Jr., Emil Ernström, and Akari Komura in the creation of new music. These new pieces will be played by the Festival’s String Performance Fellows. Choreography Mentor Sidra Bell will lead Choreographer Fellows Flora Ferguson, Jay Beardsley, and Ameeya Singh in the development of new dance work, in collaboration with EarShot Composer Fellows and String Performance Fellows.
Whitney Live and the American Composers Orchestra (ACO) present Composers OutFront!, a performance and discussion featuring creative siblings composer Erin Gee and Whitney Live Artist-in-Residence Colin Gee. The evening includes an excerpt from the film/performance work Dakota with live performances by Colin Gee and music by Erin Gee, as well as a preview of the siblings’ work in progress, Mouthpiece XIII: Mathilde of Loci, Part 1, for electronically processed voice, actor, and orchestra, with film. Mouthpiece XIII will be premiered by ACO’s Orchestra Underground at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall on November 30. 2009, at 7:30 pm