Performances
& Events

Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert

Karena Ingram, RAINN

Masterworks 7: Unbroken

Asheville Symphony

First Baptist Church of Asheville | Asheville, NC

Program

KARENA INGRAM, RAINN

WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART, Piano Concerto No. 12

DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH, Symphony No. 10

Darko Butorac, 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.
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‍RAINN was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.

Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert

Karena Ingram, RAINN

Masterworks 7: Unbroken

Asheville Symphony

First Baptist Church of Asheville | Asheville, NC

Program

KARENA INGRAM, RAINN

WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART, Piano Concerto No. 12

DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH, Symphony No. 10

Darko Butorac, 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.

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

Staff Moderator: LaRob K. Rafael 
Featured Speakers: Mali Irene, Mazz Swift 

While creating and providing standard orchestral scores and parts remains a key component of being a broadly performed composer, more ensembles are increasingly exploring graphic notation and improvised scores. LaRob K. Rafael, Director of Composer Advancement at the American Composers Orchestra, will be joined by composers Mazz Swift and Mali Irene for a dynamic conversation on how to successfully navigate—and creatively thrive within—this expanding corner of new music.
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REGISTRATION LINK

Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert

Brittany J. Green, TESTIFY!

‍Percussion & Rhythm with Andy Akiho

Oregon Symphony

Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall | Portland, OR

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Program

BRITTANY J. GREEN, TESTIFY!

ANDY AKIHO, Percussion Concerto

PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY, Symphony No. 4

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 2024–25 season, ten composers have their works performed by fifteen orchestras across the U.S.

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

Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert

Brittany J. Green, TESTIFY!

‍Percussion & Rhythm with Andy Akiho

Oregon Symphony

Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall | Portland, OR

‍
Program

BRITTANY J. GREEN, TESTIFY!

ANDY AKIHO, Percussion Concerto

PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY, Symphony No. 4

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

American Composers Orchestra’s EarShot Readings offer a rare opportunity to hear new orchestral works in progress, featuring both an open rehearsal and a public reading at Cary Hall, DiMenna Center for Classical Music. Led by Jeffery Meyer and mentor composers Huang Ruo, Valerie Coleman, and Curtis Stewart, this year's program features works by Benjamin T. Martin, Unfurling Dances; Ty Bloomfield, fragrances of something sweet; Coral Douglas, TERROR MANAGEMENT THEORY; Steven R. Gerber, Spirituals for String Orchestra, 1. Homage to Dvořák (“Goin’ Home”); Tyler Kline, West of the Sun; Seare Farhat, shadows rising soundless as night; and Kimberly Osberg, NIGHT LIGHTS. Join us June 11–12 for these readings.

REGISTRATION LINK
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JEFFERY MEYER, conductor
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‍BENJAMIN T. MARTIN, Unfurling Dances
‍TY BLOOMFIELD, fragrances of something sweet
‍CORAL DOUGLAS, TERROR MANAGEMENT THEORY
STEVEN R. GERBER, Spirituals for String Orchestra
     1. Homage to Dvořák (“Goin’ Home”)
TYLER KLINE, West of the Sun
SEARE FARHAT, shadows rising soundless as night
‍KIMBERLY OSBERG, Night Lights
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‍Mentor Composers:
Valerie Coleman
Huang Ruo
Curtis Stewart

ACO 2026 EarShot Readings are supported by the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. 

Lead support for EarShot CoLABoratory is generously provided by TD Charitable Foundation. EarShot is a program of American Composers Orchestra completed in partnership with American Composers Forum, the League of American Orchestras, and New Music USA. The program is made possible with support from Elizabeth and Justus Schlichting, Mellon Foundation, Fromm Music Foundation, Jerome Foundation, and BMI Foundation, Inc. Additional support is provided by The Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Inc., Arthur F. & Alice E. Adams Charitable Fund, Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University, G. Schirmer/Wise Music Foundation, the Stephen R. Gerber Trust, and the League of American Orchestras with support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation. 

Public funds are provided by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin, and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.

American Composers Orchestra

June 11, 2026

1:30 PM

DiMenna Center for Classical Music | New York, NY

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Featured Artists and Works:

Malachi Brown

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REGISTRATION LINK

American Composers Orchestra’s EarShot Readings offer a rare opportunity to hear new orchestral works in progress, featuring both an open rehearsal and a public reading at Cary Hall, DiMenna Center for Classical Music. Led by Jeffery Meyer and mentor composers Huang Ruo, Valerie Coleman, and Curtis Stewart, this year's program features works by Benjamin T. Martin, Unfurling Dances; Ty Bloomfield, fragrances of something sweet; Coral Douglas, TERROR MANAGEMENT THEORY; Steven R. Gerber, Spirituals for String Orchestra, 1. Homage to Dvořák (“Goin’ Home”); Tyler Kline, West of the Sun; Seare Farhat, shadows rising soundless as night; and Kimberly Osberg, NIGHT LIGHTS. Join us June 11–12 for these readings.

REGISTRATION LINK

JEFFERY MEYER, conductor
‍
BENJAMIN T. MARTIN, Unfurling Dances
‍TY BLOOMFIELD, fragrances of something sweet
‍CORAL DOUGLAS, TERROR MANAGEMENT THEORY
STEVEN R. GERBER, Spirituals for String Orchestra
     1. Homage to Dvořák (“Goin’ Home”)
TYLER KLINE, West of the Sun
SEARE FARHAT, shadows rising soundless as night
‍KIMBERLY OSBERG, Night Lights
‍
‍Mentor Composers:
Valerie Coleman
Huang Ruo
Curtis Stewart

ACO 2026 EarShot Readings are supported by the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. 

Lead support for EarShot CoLABoratory is generously provided by TD Charitable Foundation. EarShot is a program of American Composers Orchestra completed in partnership with American Composers Forum, the League of American Orchestras, and New Music USA. The program is made possible with support from Elizabeth and Justus Schlichting, Mellon Foundation, Fromm Music Foundation, Jerome Foundation, and BMI Foundation, Inc. Additional support is provided by The Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Inc., Arthur F. & Alice E. Adams Charitable Fund, Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University, G. Schirmer/Wise Music Foundation, the Stephen R. Gerber Trust, and the League of American Orchestras with support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation. 

Public funds are provided by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin, and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.

Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Declaration: Songs of Democracy, Voices of Hope
American Composers Orchestra

What does it mean to be an American today? That is the question posed by the curator, pianist and producer Lara Downes in Declaration: Songs of Democracy, Voices of Hope, featuring world premieres by three major composers. Valerie Coleman presents Life, a work for solo piano; Arturo O'Farrill offers the Liberty; and Christopher Tin closes with The Pursuit of Happiness. These latter two compositions are performed by the American Composers Orchestra, under the baton of Eric Jacobsen, with the aid of a select collective of artists and bands who represent a wide range of the American experience. Guests will include jazz bassist Christian McBride, vocalists Kurt Elling and Aoife O’Donovan, and more to be announced.