Performances
& Events
March 23, 2026
3:30 PM
Staff Moderator: Melissa Ngan
Featured Speakers: Dan Visconti , Jeff Scott
There is much more to securing a commission or building a successful consortium than simply writing a great piece of music. In this candid conversation, Melissa Ngan, President and CEO of American Composers Orchestra, will be joined by arts leader Dan Visconti of Visconti Arts and composer and performer Jeff Scott to explore the behind-the-scenes realities of commissioning. Together, they will unpack how artists, managers, and partner organizations collaborate to navigate contracts, fee negotiations, consortium structures, and the delicate balance of honoring the composer’s voice while meeting institutional priorities.
REGISTRATION LINK
March 23, 2026
3:30 PM
Staff Moderator: Melissa Ngan
Featured Speaker: Dan Visconti , Jeff Scott
%20Toulmin%20-%20Moni%20Jasmine%20Guo.png)
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Moni Jasmine Guo, the sound of where i came from (乡音 Xiāng Yīn)
Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto: Radiant Vision
Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra
Powell Hall | St. Louis, MO
Program
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN, The Consecration of the House Overture
MONI JASMINE GUO, the sound of where i came from (乡音 Xiāng Yīn)
KEVIN PUTS, Concerto for Orchestra
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN, Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor”
Stéphane Denève, 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.
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Moni Jasmine Guo, the sound of where i came from (乡音 Xiāng Yīn)
Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto: Radiant Vision
Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra
Powell Hall | St. Louis, MO
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Moni Jasmine Guo, the sound of where i came from (乡音 Xiāng Yīn)
Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto: Radiant Vision
Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra
Powell Hall | St. Louis, MO
Program
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN, The Consecration of the House Overture
MONI JASMINE GUO, the sound of where i came from (乡音 Xiāng Yīn)
KEVIN PUTS, Concerto for Orchestra
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN, Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor”
Stéphane Denève, 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.
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Moni Jasmine Guo, the sound of where i came from (乡音 Xiāng Yīn)
Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto: Radiant Vision
Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra
Powell Hall | St. Louis, MO
%20Toulmin%20-%20Karena%20Ingram.png)
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.
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Karena Ingram, RAINN
Masterworks 7: Unbroken
Asheville Symphony
First Baptist Church of Asheville | Asheville, NC
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.
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Karena Ingram, RAINN
Masterworks 7: Unbroken
Asheville Symphony
First Baptist Church of Asheville | Asheville, NC
%20Toulmin-%20Brittney%20Green.png)
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 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
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.
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Brittany J. Green, TESTIFY!
Percussion & Rhythm with Andy Akiho
Oregon Symphony
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall | Portland, OR
Jeffery Meyer, conductor
Featured Artists and Works:
Seare Farhat, shadows rising soundless as night
Gregory Kline, West of the Sun
Ty Bloomfield, FRAGRANCES OF SOMETHING SWEET
Coral Douglas, TERROR MANAGEMENT THEORY
Kimberly Osberg, NIGHT LIGHTS
Benjamin T Martin, Unfurling Dances
Mentor Composers:
TBD
%20MALACHI%20BROWN.png)
American Composers Orchestra
June 11, 2026
1:30 PM
DiMenna Center for Classical Music | New York, NY
Featured Artists and Works:
Malachi Brown
Jeffery Meyer, conductor
Featured Artists and Works:
Seare Farhat, shadows rising soundless as night
Gregory Kline, West of the Sun
Ty Bloomfield, FRAGRANCES OF SOMETHING SWEET
Coral Douglas, TERROR MANAGEMENT THEORY
Kimberly Osberg, NIGHT LIGHTS
Benjamin T Martin, Unfurling Dances
Mentor Composers:
TBD
%20Toulmin%20-%20Melody%20Eo%CC%88tvo%CC%88s.png)
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 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.
Red Dirt | Silver Rain was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
Dear Friends,Welcome to American Composer Orchestra’s final concert of the 2017-2018 season at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall. ACO has enjoyed a whirlwind of a season, celebrating our 40th birthday with a gala concert featuring music of American composers past and present; hosting the kickoff event in Carnegie Hall’s focus on this season’s Richard and Barbara Debs Composer’s Chair (and ACO board member) Phillip Glass; and along with the PROTOTYPE Festival, co-presenting the NY Premiere of Greg Spears’ acclaimed opera Fellow Travelers.Tonight’s program, “Dreamscapes”, occurs at a milestone in American history. Fifty years ago this past Wednesday—April 4, 1968—Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated as he stood on the balcony of the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis. In the spirit of what Dr. King described as the “fierce urgency of now,” ACO presents five works written by living composers, each of whom uses music to contemplate an aspect of our shared humanity. Despite the setbacks and angst of our era, we at ACO hope that the spirit of the world Dr. King imagined in his speech is embodied in this concert, and that through creativity we might indeed strive toward “a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.”One of America’s preeminent contemporary composers, T.J. Anderson, celebrates his 90th birthday this year. We are proud to present NY premiere of Bahia Bahia, a joyous work inspired by journeys to Salvador and dedicated to two Brazilian composer colleagues. Traveling in the other direction—from Rio to Chicago—composer, pianist, and singer Clarice Assad weaves a different kind of expedition, through the volatile and peaceful vagaries of sleep. We are thrilled to feature internationally acclaimed violinist Elena Urioste as the soloist in the NY premiere of Assad’s mesmerizing concerto Dreamscapes.We’ll also hear three world premieres by composers whose background in jazz has led them to collaborate with artists and ensembles from multiple genres. Hitomi Oba’s September Coming—a direct result of her participation in ACO’s Jazz Composers Orchestra Institute—incorporates aspects of her own improvisational language, informed by ethnomusicological research. Steve Lehman’s Ten Threshold Studies explores both perceptual and physical boundaries, filtered through the medium of symphonic forces. And Ethan Iverson’s brash sense of humor melds with a deft technique in a stylistic homage: Concerto to Scale, with the composer himself as the intrepid piano soloist.As ACO sets its sights on the next 40 years, our goal is to highlight the breadth and diversity of American symphonic creativity. Society should follow its artists: their imagination, and their vision. The word “composer” in our name is deliberate and meaningful. They are our guiding star.Have a great evening, and thank you again for joining us!Derek BermelArtistic Director
When we began assembling programs around commissions from Valerie, Alex Temple, and Du Yun, we didn’t set out with the goal of featuring women (the iconic Morton Feldman being the sole male voice in our concerts this season). We simply programmed the music we wanted to share with you—music we believe in, music we love. But taking a step back, we were pleased that the result is a season of women’s voices, which demonstrates their vitality in American music today. An exciting generation of composers emerges with every call for scores and reading sessions that ACO produces through the annual Underwood New Music Readings in New York (May 23 and 24—mark your calendars!) and through EarShot in partnership with orchestras nationwide. With all that talent, inclusion and quality definitely go hand in hand. We hope that our beloved and iconic American composers—such as Copland, Bernstein, and Barber—would have been darn pleased. A final note, to one of our great living American composers: September 8marked the 80th birthday of the remarkable Joan Tower. Joan wrote her first large orchestral work for ACO in 1981, and we are delighted to help celebrate her milestone year with a performance of Chamber Dance tonight. It was commissioned by our good colleagues at Orpheus Chamber Orchestra about a decade ago, and by bringing it back, ACO stands strong in our commitment to help cement great works of American music into the standing repertoire