Performances
& Events
American Composers Orchestra
DiMenna Center for Classical Music (New York, NY)
Featured Artists and Works:
Kian Ravaei, New Work
Jordyn Davis, New Work
Horacio Fernández, New Work
CLICK TO REGISTER
Featured Artists and Works:
Kian Ravaei, New Work
Jordyn Davis, New Work
Horacio Fernández, New Work
CLICK TO REGISTER
Featured Artists and Works:
Andreia Pinto-Correia, New Work
Nathan Schram, New Work
American Composers Orchestra
DiMenna Center for Classical Music (New York, NY)
Featured Artists and Works:
Andreia Pinto-Correia, New Work
Nathan Schram, New Work
CLICK TO REGISTER
Featured Artists and Works:
Andreia Pinto-Correia, New Work
Nathan Schram, New Work
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Leanna Primiani, Visions
Eyes on the Horizon
ROCO
Miller Outdoor Theatre | Houston, TX
Delyana Lazarova, 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.
Visions was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Leanna Primiani, Visions
Eyes on the Horizon
ROCO
Miller Outdoor Theatre | Houston, TX
Delyana Lazarova, Conductor
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Leanna Primiani, Visions
Eyes on the Horizon
ROCO
The Church of St. John the Divine | Houston, TX
Delyana Lazarova, 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.
Visions was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Leanna Primiani, Visions
Eyes on the Horizon
ROCO
The Church of St. John the Divine | Houston, TX
Delyana Lazarova, Conductor
October 20, 2026, 10:00 AM
EarShot Readings: Nashville Symphony
Schermerhorn Symphony Center | Nashville, TN
Valery Saul, Conductor
Anthony Davis, Mentor Composer
Nina Shekar, Mentor Composer
Dave Ragland, Mentor Composer
Featured Artists and Works
Alexander Reams, All Aboard the Train of Destiny!!
Dean Boursiquot, Until Nightfall
Jackson Waters, Defending Greenwood, III: “June 1, 1921”
Michelle Lorimer, Suite for Grief, IV. “Acceptance
October 20, 2026, 10:00 AM
EarShot Readings: Nashville Symphony
Schermerhorn Symphony Center | Nashville, TN
October 21, 2026, 7:30 PM
EarShot Readings: Nashville Symphony
Schermerhorn Symphony Center | Nashville, TN
Valery Saul, Conductor
Anthony Davis, Mentor Composer
Nina Shekar, Mentor Composer
Dave Ragland, Mentor Composer
Featured Artists and Works
Alexander Reams, All Aboard the Train of Destiny!!
Dean Boursiquot, Until Nightfall
Jackson Waters, Defending Greenwood, III: “June 1, 1921”
Michelle Lorimer, Suite for Grief, IV. “Acceptance
October 21, 2026, 7:30 PM
EarShot Readings: Nashville Symphony
Schermerhorn Symphony Center | Nashville, TN
Join the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research for an intimate evening celebrating the American premiere of Tfiles, a clarinet concerto by composer Alex Weiser, to be performed at Carnegie Hall on October 27th by clarinetist Andrzej Ciepliński and the American Composers Orchestra led by conductor Kedrick Armstrong. The evening will feature a conversation between Weiser and Ciepliński — moderated by distinguished scholar Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett — exploring the work’s origins in Kadya Molodowsky’s poetic reflections on the idea of Jewish prayer, the partnership behind its realization, and the music’s journey from its world premiere at POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw to the stage of Carnegie Hall. The evening will also include a brief solo performance by Ciepliński, followed by a reception with food and the opportunity to meet the artists. Tfiles (Yiddish for “prayers”) recasts the clarinet concerto as a set of musical prayers. Praised after its Warsaw premiere as “full of noble simplicity and warmth” (Polityka), the concerto follows Molodowsky’s lead in reimagining the traditional collective Jewish ritual search for the divine as a personal, individual quest beyond the boundaries of traditional observance.
REGISTER FOR FREE
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).
Presented by American Composers Orchestra, American Friends of POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, Association of the Jewish Historical Institute, Adam Mickiewicz Institute, Polish Cultural Institute New York, YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, and American Society for Jewish Music
REGISTER FOR FREE
October 23, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Brittany J. Green, TESTIFY!
Made in America: Celebrate 250!
Amarillo Symphony
Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts | Amarillo, TX
George Jackson, 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.
TESTIFY! was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
October 23, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Brittany J. Green, TESTIFY!
Made in America: Celebrate 250!
Amarillo Symphony
Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts | Amarillo, TX
October 24, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Brittany J. Green, TESTIFY!
Made in America: Celebrate 250!
Amarillo Symphony
Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts | Amarillo, TX
George Jackson, 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.
TESTIFY! was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
October 24, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Brittany J. Green, TESTIFY!
Made in America: Celebrate 250!
Amarillo Symphony
Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts | Amarillo, TX
Please save the date for ACO's 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 our performance in Zankel Hall at 7:30pm. The celebration will conclude with a post-concert dessert reception in the Weill Terrace Room.
Invitations and RSVP details will be sent in mid-August. To secure your attendance early, please contact Syleste Alexander at syleste@americancomposers.org
Please save the date for ACO's 2026 Gala & Creative Catalyst Awards on October 27, 2026 at Carnegie Hall, held immediately preceding our performance of Hello America: We Gather Here.
Invitations and RSVP details will be sent in mid-August. To secure your attendance early, please contact Syleste Alexander at syleste@americancomposers.org
October 27, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Hello, America: We Gather Here
American Composers Orchestra
Zankel Hall, Carnegie Hall | New York City, NY
Program
DANIEL BERNARD ROUMAIN America, To Us for Electric Violins and Orchestra (NY Premiere)
OSWALD HUỲNH New Work for Vietnamese Traditional Instruments and Orchestra (World Premiere)
ALEXANDER TIMOFEEV New Work (World Premiere)
MALI IRENE Deliverance for Orchestra and Community Music Making (World Premiere)
ALEX WEISER Tfiles for Clarinet and Orchestra (US Premiere)
THEA MUSGRAVE Song of the Enchanter
Andrzej Ciepliński’s participation inthis concert is generously supported by the Polish Cultural Institute New York,the American Friends of POLIN (AFoP) / Association of the Jewish HistoricalInstitute (SZIH), and the Adam Mickiewicz Institute (IAM).
Tracy Silverman, Electric Violin
Vân-Ánh Võ, Dan Bau
Andrzej Ciepliński, Clarinet
Kedrick Armstrong, Conductor
October 28, 2026 at 4:30 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 at 4:30 PM
CoLABoratory Workshop
American Composers Orchestra
DiMenna Center for Classical Music | New York, NY
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
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.
December 5, 2026 at 8:00pm
A Night of Inspiration
Ray Chew, Music Director
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 Tumbao (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.
Mélisse Brunet, conductor
Featured Artists and Works*:
Joseph Sowa, Summer Has Ten Thousand Stars
Chelsea Komschlies, The Sunken Cathedral
Marina López, Moño
Patricia Leonard, "John Adams Theme" from My Dearest Friend
Sepehr Pirasteh, will the mountains sing for me
Iván Enrique Rodríguez, Sinfonía No. 2: Naa Okùnkùn ti Òkúnta Dídán
*Rehearsal order subject to change
Lead support for the inaugural EarShot Showcase is provided by the Fromm Music Foundation.
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Andreia Pinto Correia, Ciprés
Prokofiev’s First Violin Concerto
Princeton Symphony Orchestra
Richardson Auditorium | Princeton, NJ
Program
ANDREIA PINTO CORREIA, Ciprés
SERGEI PROKOFIEV, Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major, Op. 19
DIMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH, Symphony No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 10
Rossen Milanov, conductor
Bella Hristova, 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.
Ciprés was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Andreia Pinto Correia, Ciprés
Prokofiev’s First Violin Concerto
Princeton Symphony Orchestra
Richardson Auditorium | Princeton, NJ
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Andreia Pinto Correia, Ciprés
Prokofiev’s First Violin Concerto
Princeton Symphony Orchestra
Richardson Auditorium | Princeton, NJ
Program
ANDREIA PINTO CORREIA, Ciprés
SERGEI PROKOFIEV, Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major, Op. 19
DIMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH, Symphony No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 10
Rossen Milanov, conductor
Bella Hristova, 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.
Ciprés was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Andreia Pinto Correia, Ciprés
Prokofiev’s First Violin Concerto
Princeton Symphony Orchestra
Richardson Auditorium | Princeton, NJ
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Wang Jie, The Winter that United Us
Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes
Clemens Center | Elmira, NY
WANG JIE, The Winter that United Us
TRADITIONAL, Angels We Have Heard on High, Joy to the World, Sleigh Ride
ANVER FINBERG, Dances in Freygish
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 Winter that United Us 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)
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.
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
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.
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
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.
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
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.
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
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
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
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
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.
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
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.
Featured Artists and Works
Joseph C. Phillips Jr., We Hold These Truths to Be Self-Evident
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Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at 7:30 PM
American Composers Orchestra
Zankel Hall, Carnegie Hall | New York City, NY
Link: https://www.carnegiehall.org/Cart/Event-Seating?itemNumber=49300#/
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.
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'
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.
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
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.
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
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.
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
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
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.
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
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.
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
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.
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Meilina Tsui, Floridian Symphony
Resurrection: Mahler’s Resurrection & The Music of The Lion King
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.
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Chelsea Komschlies, Mycelialore
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.
Kyle Dickson, conductor
Featured Artists and Works:
Marisol Gentile, Paisaje Onírico
Jens Ibsen, Lunar Phrasing
Benjamin Krause, Silent City
Matthew Lam, Witchcraft
Mentor Composers:
Jimmy López Bellido
Jeffery Meyer, conductor
Featured Artists and Works:
Corey Chang, Dragon Gate
Laura Pacheco, Voices of the Earth and Sea
Emre Sener, Bekçi
Mentor Composers:
David Dzubay
Gabriel Jenks
Curtis Stuart
Melinda Wagner
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September 22, 2025
4:00 PM ET
Staff Moderator: LaRob K. Rafael
Featured Speakers: Shawn Johnson & Jasmine (Moni) Guo
EarShot Readings are the first systemic program connecting composers with orchestras, providing the unique opportunity to rehearse and interact with large ensembles in a way that many composers never have. This webinar, featuring two previous EarShot Readings participants, will offer insights on the application process and outcomes of this program.
Shawn Johnson, a Virginia Beach native, studied Music Theory and Composition at Old Dominion University and East Carolina University. He studied Composition with composers such as Adolphus Hailstork, Andrey Kasparov, and Edward Jacobs. Johnson grew up listening to popular styles such as R&B, Hip-Hop, Rock, and Jazz, among others. He works to infuse key elements from those styles into his music. In addition, he works to have a keen understanding of the concepts related to popular music. He wrote his Master’s Thesis on the music of the Pulitzer Prize Winning Artist, Kendrick Lamar.
Moni (Jasmine) Guo (b. 1993) is a classical pianist, a contemporary concert composer and film composer from Taiyuan, Shanxi, China. She has appeared as both a performer and composer in Asia, Europe, South America, Canada, and the United States. As a composer, Jasmine is highly interested in using her music to encourage and comfort people around the world; moreover, she also hopes to use her music as a bridge between Western and Eastern culture.
September 22, 2025
4:00 PM ET
Staff Moderator: LaRob K. Rafael
Featured Speakers: Shawn Johnson & Jasmine (Moni) Guo
This webinar offers insight on the application process and outcomes of ACO's EarShot Readings.
Compose Yourself! is an advanced music composition program offering both in-school and out-of-school classes for high school–aged musicians eager to deepen their understanding of the art of composing. This culminating event showcases original works created by student composers throughout the program, highlighting their creativity, growth, and unique musical voices.
Mise-En-Place
45 St Nicholas Ave, New York, NY 10026
In Harlem at the corner of 112th St
Closest trains - C, 2, 3
Join us on Tuesday, August 26th from 10:30am-1:00pm at the DiMenna Center for ACO's upcoming CoLABoratory workshop featuring music by Mazz Swift and Shelley Washington. Each of these artists has been commissioned by ACO to write a new work for orchestra that pushes the boundary of the orchestral genre.
Composer and saxophonist Shelley Washington writes music that draws from every sound she’s ever heard, tacking together snippets of jazz, rock, American folk, etc. sewed together with heavy grooves and big harmonies that “expertly mine the deep wells of private emotion,” (Opera News). Shelley is creating a new work for ACO and cellist Amanda Gookin building on her previous work, Seething, for kick drum and cello; details are available here.
Mazz Swift is a violinist, singer, composer, and conductor, weaving improvisation, classic African American musics, electronica, and mindfulness into their work. Mazz's new work draws on Butch Morris's Conduction method, engaging collective improvisation as a pathway for liberation. Details are available here.
Shelley Washington – Haymaker
Mazz Swift – Memory FIVE: Freedom Initiate
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Marina López, Moño
Art Deco at 100 (Summermusik Festival)
Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra
School for Creative and Performing Arts | Cincinnati, OH
Link: https://summermusik.org/events-main/artdeco/
Program
ELLINGTON/STRAYHORN, arr. Fred Barton, Take the “A” Train
JOHN ALDEN CARPENTER, Krazy Kat
MARINA LÓPEZ, Moño
MAURICE RAVEL, Piano Concerto in G Major
OTTORINO RESPIGHI, Gli Ucelli (The Birds)
GEORGE GERSHWIN, arr. Ferde Grofe, Rhapsody in Blue
Eckart Preu, Conductor
Terrence Wilson, 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.
Moño was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Chelsea Komschlies, Mycelialore
Grant Park Orchestra
Jake Pritzker Pavilion | Chicago, IL
Link: https://www.grantparkmusicfestival.com/events/saint-saens-organ-symphony/
Program
CHELSEA KOMSCHLIES, Mycelialore
FRANZ LISZT, Piano Concerto No. 1
CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS, Symphony No. 3, “Organ”
Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor
Clayton Stephenson, 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.
Mycelialore was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
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June 6, 2025
EarShot Readings: American Composers Orchestra
Friday, June 6, 2025 at 7:30 PM – Public Reading
Neidorff-Karpati Hall, Manhattan School of Music
Rei Hotoda, conductor
Vijay Iyer, mentor composer
Curtis Stewart, mentor composer
Melinda Wagner, mentor composer
LAVELL BLACKWELL, Toccata for Orchestra
ARJAN SINGH DOGRA, Live Salmon
GRACE ANN LEE, In Crystallized Time
STEVEN R. GERBER, Spirituals for String Orchestra, 6. Call and Response (“Go Down, Moses”)
SHAWN JOHNSON, The Cardinal Takes Flight
CHENG JIN KOH, Midnight Visions
MARIE DOUGLAS, The People Could Fly
Live Salmon is presented in partnership with the BMI Foundation
Spirituals for String Orchestra is made possible by the Steven R. Gerber Trust
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 lead support from Altman Foundation, Elizabeth and Justus Schlichting, Mellon Foundation, Sphinx Venture Fund, TD Charitable Foundation, Fromm Foundation, Ford Good Neighbor Committee, Jerome Foundation, BMI Foundation, and The New York Community Trust Van Lier Fellowships; additional support is provided by the Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Arthur F. & Alice E. Adams Charitable Fund, Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University, G. Schirmer/Wise Music Foundation, 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, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
June 6, 2025
EarShot Readings: American Composers Orchestra
Neidorff-Karpati Hall, Manhattan School of Music | New York City, NY
EarShot CoLABoratory Workshop: Shelley Washington
Thursday, June 5, 2025 @ 1:30-2:30pm | Neidorff-Karpati Hall, Manhattan School of Music
In her first work for full orchestra, Shelley Washington builds on a previous work, Seething, for cello and kick drum, commissioned and performed by Amanda Gookin. She will explore the question: What would it mean to treat each musician as a virtuoso within the context of a larger group of musicians?
June 5, 2025
Featured Artist & Work
Shelley Washington
June 5, 2025
EarShot Readings: American Composers Orchestra
Thursday, June 5, 2025 at 10:30 AM – Open Rehearsal
Neidorff-Karpati Hall, Manhattan School of Music
Rei Hotoda, conductor
Vijay Iyer, mentor composer
Curtis Stewart, mentor composer
Melinda Wagner, mentor composer
LAVELL BLACKWELL, Toccata for Orchestra
ARJAN SINGH DOGRA, Live Salmon
GRACE ANN LEE, In Crystallized Time
STEVEN R. GERBER, Spirituals for String Orchestra, 6. Call and Response (“Go Down, Moses”)
SHAWN JOHNSON, The Cardinal Takes Flight
CHENG JIN KOH, Midnight Visions
MARIE DOUGLAS, The People Could Fly
Live Salmon is presented in partnership with the BMI Foundation
Spirituals for String Orchestra is made possible by the Steven R. Gerber Trust
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 lead support from Altman Foundation, Elizabeth and Justus Schlichting, Mellon Foundation, Sphinx Venture Fund, TD Charitable Foundation, Fromm Foundation, Ford Good Neighbor Committee, Jerome Foundation, BMI Foundation, and The New York Community Trust Van Lier Fellowships; additional support is provided by the Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Arthur F. & Alice E. Adams Charitable Fund, Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University, G. Schirmer/Wise Music Foundation, 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, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
June 5, 2025
EarShot Readings: American Composers Orchestra
Neidorff-Karpati Hall, Manhattan School of Music | New York City, NY
June 1, 2025
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Gity Razaz, Methuselah (In Chains of Time)
Berkeley Symphony
The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program for women composers is an initiative of the League of American Orchestras, in partnership with American Composers Orchestra (ACO) and supported by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation. Selected composers are previous participants in ACO's EarShot Readings.
The League and ACO 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, 10 composers have their works performed by 15 orchestras across the U.S.
In Chains of Time was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
June 1, 2025
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Gity Razaz, Methuselah (In Chains of Time)
In Chains of Time was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
May 17, 2025
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Karena Ingram, TBD (World Premiere)
Memphis Symphony Orchestra
The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program for women composers is an initiative of the League of American Orchestras, in partnership with American Composers Orchestra (ACO) and supported by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation. Selected composers are previous participants in ACO's EarShot Readings.
The League and ACO 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, 10 composers have their works performed by 15 orchestras across the U.S.
This work was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
May 17, 2025
Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Karena Ingram, TBD (World Premiere)
This work was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.
May 12-13, 2025
EarShot Readings: Lawrence University Symphony Orchestra
Appleton, WI
Michael Clayville, Conductor
Via EarShot, Lawrence University will workshop scores that fall outside of typical performance and notation standards including graphic scores, scores that engage improvisation, and scores with other components that are non-typical to Western musical notation. Selected works include those for open instrumentation (scores that can be read by any configuration of instruments), compositions that integrate "shape note" notation, and works that require light improvisation. Selected composers - Alicia Castillo, Matthew Mason, Lila Meretzky, and Logan Rutledge - will receive individualized feedback from mentor composers Marcos Balter, Joanne Metcalf, and Asha Srinivasan.
Artists will return to Lawrence University in January 2026 to participate in EarShot Readings where they will develop these compositions for the Lawrence University New Music Ensemble.
May 12-13, 2025
EarShot Readings: Lawrence University Symphony Orchestra
Appleton, WI
Michael Clayville, Conductor
Via EarShot, Lawrence University will workshop scores that fall outside of typical performance and notation standards including graphic scores, scores that engage improvisation, and scores with other components that are non-typical to Western musical notation. Selected works include those for open instrumentation (scores that can be read by any configuration of instruments), compositions that integrate "shape note" notation, and works that require light improvisation. Selected composers - Alicia Castillo, Matthew Mason, Lila Meretzky, and Logan Rutledge - will receive individualized feedback from mentor composers Marcos Balter, Joanne Metcalf, and Asha Srinivasan.
Artists will return to Lawrence University in January 2026 to participate in EarShot Readings where they will develop these compositions for the Lawrence University New Music Ensemble.