Performances
& Events

EarShot Readings: Lawrence University 

Monday, January 26–Thursday, January 29, 2026

Lawrence University | Appleton, WI

Link TBA

Mark Dupere, conductor

Featured Artists and Works:

Alicia Castillo, Billow

Matthew Mason, Downhill from Breathing

Lila Meretzky, To crave and to have

Logan Rutledge, Through My Child Eyes

‍Mentor Composers:

Marcos Balter

Theresa Martin

Asha Srinivasan

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THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT

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Mélisse Brunet, conductor

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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

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This performance will be livestreamed to this page; please check back here to view.

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‍Lead support for the inaugural EarShot Showcase is provided by the Fromm Music Foundation.

Mélisse Brunet, conductor

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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

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*Rehearsal order subject to change

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‍Lead support for the inaugural EarShot Showcase is provided by the Fromm Music Foundation.

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.
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‍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)‍‍

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‍Heartsong: Mendelssohn, Guo, & Rachmaninoff‍

Lexington Philharmonic

Singletary Center for the Arts | Lexington, KY

Link: https://lexphil.org/heartsong‍

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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
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‍The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program: American Composers Orchestra and League of American Orchestras have established two 30-orchestra consortiums, each supporting commissions by six women and nonbinary EarShot alumni. Each composer writes a 6–8 minute orchestral work and develops an educational or community-focused program presented in partnership with each orchestra. In the 2025–26 season, composers have their works performed by nineteen orchestras across the U.S.
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‍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
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‍The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program: American Composers Orchestra and League of American Orchestras have established two 30-orchestra consortiums, each supporting commissions by six women and nonbinary EarShot alumni. Each composer writes a 6–8 minute orchestral work and develops an educational or community-focused program presented in partnership with each orchestra. In the 2025–26 season, composers have their works performed by nineteen orchestras across the U.S.

‍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
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Link TBA
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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
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‍‍The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program: American Composers Orchestra and League of American Orchestras have established two 30-orchestra consortiums, each supporting commissions by six women and nonbinary EarShot alumni. Each composer writes a 6–8 minute orchestral work and develops an educational or community-focused program presented in partnership with each orchestra. In the 2025–26 season, composers have their works performed by nineteen orchestras across the U.S.
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‍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
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‍The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program: American Composers Orchestra and League of American Orchestras have established two 30-orchestra consortiums, each supporting commissions by six women and nonbinary EarShot alumni. Each composer writes a 6–8 minute orchestral work and develops an educational or community-focused program presented in partnership with each orchestra. In the 2025–26 season, composers have their works performed by nineteen orchestras across the U.S.
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‍RAINN was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.

Link: https://secure.givelively.org/event/american-composers-orchestra/colaboratory-workshop-joseph-c-phillips-jr

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Featured Artists and Works

Joseph C. Phillips Jr., We Hold These Truths to Be Self-Evident

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/ 
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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.
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‍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
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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.
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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

Meilina Tsui, Floridian Symphony
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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
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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.
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‍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

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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 

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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.
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‍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

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Symphonic Landscapes

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

Kyle Dickson, conductor

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Featured Artists and Works:

Marisol Gentile, Paisaje Onírico

Jens Ibsen, Lunar Phrasing

Benjamin Krause, Silent City 

Matthew Lam, Witchcraft
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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

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 

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Art Deco at 100 (Summermusik Festival)

Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra

School for Creative and Performing Arts | Cincinnati, OH

Link: https://summermusik.org/events-main/artdeco/ 

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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

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Eckart Preu, Conductor

Terrence Wilson, piano
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‍The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program: American Composers Orchestra and League of American Orchestras have established two 30-orchestra consortiums, each supporting commissions by six women and nonbinary EarShot alumni. Each composer writes a 6–8 minute orchestral work and develops an educational or community-focused program presented in partnership with each orchestra. In the 2025–26 season, composers have their works performed by nineteen orchestras across the U.S.
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‍Moño was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.

Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert

Chelsea Komschlies, Mycelialore
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Saint-Saëns Organ Symphony

Grant Park Orchestra
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Jake Pritzker Pavilion | Chicago, IL

Link: https://www.grantparkmusicfestival.com/events/saint-saens-organ-symphony/  
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Program
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CHELSEA KOMSCHLIES, Mycelialore

FRANZ LISZT, Piano Concerto No. 1

CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS, Symphony No. 3, “Organ”
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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.
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‍Mycelialore was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.