Composer

Yeol Eum Son Plays Dvořák

Naples Philharmonic

Baltimore Choral Arts opens the 2024-25 season by connecting to our past in our first subscription concert, Sacred Heritage, pairing a unique selection of Benjamin Britten’s choral works with the iconic and retrospective Duruflé Requiem. We will be joined by the students of our CoroLAB program for a performance of See Me by Reena Esmail.

Sacred Heritage

Cathedral of Mary Our Queen

Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Shakespeare with the Quad City Symphony Orchestra's (QCSO) Masterworks II: Midsummer Night's Dream. This captivating concert, scheduled for November 3 at 2:00 pm CST, promises an afternoon of musical magic at the Centennial Hall in Rock Island, Illinois. Under the baton of Mark Russell Smith, the orchestra will perform a selection of works inspired by Shakespeare's plays, including David Diamond's Music for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Reena Esmail's Testament from Vishwas and REMember, and Felix Mendelssohn's Excerpts from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, op.21 & 61.

The performance will feature a rich array of talent, including narrators Shelley Cooper and Doug Kutzli, sopranos and altos from the Augustana Choir and Choral Artists directed by Jon Hurty, and a special appearance by Ballet Quad Cities with choreography by Courtney Lyon. This event is not only a concert but a celebration of the fusion between Western and Indian classical music traditions, highlighted by the works of Reena Esmail.

Tickets for this mesmerizing experience are available as part of a Subscription Only, with single tickets going on sale on May 15, 2024, at 9:00 am. Subscribers can save 10-25% with a Pick-3 or Full Masterworks Subscription, making it the perfect opportunity to ensure your seat at this must-see event.

Enhance your concert experience by joining QCSO Music Director Mark Russell Smith for "Inside the Music" on the Thursday evening preceding the concert for a deep dive into the Masterworks programs, or attend the pre-concert "Concert Conversations" to learn more about the pieces you'll hear performed. After the concert, don't miss the "Afterglow" event at the Hotel Blackhawk, where you can mingle with Maestro Smith, guest artists, and members of the QCSO.

Don't miss this opportunity to explore the magic of Shakespeare through music with the QCSO's Masterworks II: Midsummer Night's Dream. Mark your calendars and subscribe today for an unforgettable musical journey.

Masterworks II: Midsummer Night’s Dream

Adler Theatre

Centennial Hall Auditorium

Showcasing the excellence of female brass players and musicians from marginalized groups, Seraph Brass celebrates its tenth anniversary in Miami. Winners of the American Prize in Chamber Music, the group has been praised for their “beautiful sounds" (American Record Guide), "fine playing” (Gramophone), and “staggeringly high caliber of performance” (Textura). 

Seraph Brass performs a diverse body of repertoire, ranging from original transcriptions to newly commissioned works and core classics. The program features works by women (Rene Orth, Reena Esmail, Catherine McMichael), American (Anthony DiLorenzo, Kevin Day, Jeff Scott, Kevin McKee), and European (Edvard Grieg, Giuseppe Verdi, Liszt, Franz Dinicu) composers.

Seraph Brass

University of Miami

Join us for an enchanting evening with the Spartanburg Philharmonic as we present "Symphonie Fantastique" on Saturday, September 14, 2024, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM at Twichell Auditorium, located at 580 East Main Street, Spartanburg, SC, 29302. This remarkable concert marks the beginning of our 96th Season, promising an unforgettable journey through musical fantasy.

The night features the extraordinary talents of pianist Terrence Wilson, who will lead us through a program that bridges contemporary compositions with classical masterpieces. The evening will open with a contemporary piece by Reena Esmail, followed by Rachmaninoff's stirring "Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini." The grand finale will be Hector Berlioz's mesmerizing "Symphonie Fantastique," a piece that promises to captivate and inspire.

Under the baton of conductor John Young Shik Concklin, the program includes:
- Reena Esmail, "REMember" (7')
- Rachmaninoff, "Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini" (22')
- Hector Berlioz, "Symphonie Fantastique" (49')

This concert is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in a world where contemporary meets fantasy, showcasing the brilliance of Terrence Wilson alongside the Spartanburg Philharmonic's exceptional musicianship.

Single tickets will be on sale this summer, with an option to subscribe to the full season and save 10% off single ticket prices and service fees. Don't miss this chance to be part of a magical night that sets the tone for an exciting season ahead.

EPSG:4326

Symphonie Fantastique

Converse University

Join us for an enchanting evening at the Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival with "Concert II: Stories from Asia" on Thursday, August 22, 2024. This unique concert will take you on a musical journey through Asia, showcasing the rich and diverse folk music traditions from China, Tibet, Japan, India, and Korea. Experience the beauty of these cultures through a selection of works by composers who have been inspired by their own musical heritage.

The concert will feature the thrilling "Blaze" by Indian-American composer Reena Esmail, which includes the traditional Indian tabla, an instrument renowned for its complexity and expressive power. Additionally, the program includes Nian Liu's "Suite for Viola Solo," Keiko Abe's "Variations on Japanese Children's Songs 1982," traditional Korean folk songs, and Sandeep Das's "Rhythms of India," all performed by an exceptional lineup of artists. 

Artists for the evening include David Serkin Ludwig as the resident composer, Jennifer Frautschi on violin, Wenting Kang on viola, Ji Hye Jung on percussion, and Sandeep Das on tabla. Each artist brings their own unique interpretation and deep understanding of the music, promising an unforgettable experience.

Tickets are available for general admission at $45, with special pricing for those under 30 at $20, and students at $5. Don't miss this opportunity to explore the stories and sounds of Asia through this remarkable concert. Buy your festival pass or single tickets today and immerse yourself in the transformative power of music.

Concert II: Stories from Asia

All Souls Interfaith Gathering

Our fan-favorite evening of music and wine pairings returns! This year features the return of Soprano, Melissa Wimbish, and the introduction of acclaimed percussionist and faculty at the Peabody Conservatory, Jeff Stern. Exciting works by composers from around the world are paired with incredible wines from our friends at Annapolis’ own Bin 201. Must be 21 or older to partake in wine tastings.

Fine Wine and Finer Music

Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis

Tippet Rise is delighted to welcome back Grammy-winning cellist Arlen Hlusko for the inaugural performance at the Geode, a new open-air performance space set in a panorama of seven surrounding mountain ranges.

Arlen Hlusko, cello

Tippet Rise Art Center

Conrad Tao delves into Rachmaninoff’s Californian years, highlighting his relationship with the American songbook, before an exploration of composers past and present who have shaped California’s unique cultural tapestry. This journey through California’s rich artistic legacy showcases the diverse influences and inspirations found within its vibrant landscape, from its pioneering composers to the myriad of stories that have been woven under its expansive skies.

California Dreamin'

Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center

This concert unfolds as a heartfelt tribute through the intimate language of chamber music, featuring Bach’s reflective early cantata, selections by VOCES8 spanning several centuries, and Beethoven’s “Archduke” Trio, a musical note of gratitude to his most devoted patron. This concert embodies a journey of thankfulness, from Baroque introspection to Classical exuberance, celebrating the enduring human spirit of appreciation and connection.

Gratitude

New Zealand-born violinist Geneva Lewis has forged a reputation as a musician of consummate artistry. Named a BBC New Generation Artist (2022–24), Ms. Lewis is also the recipient of a 2022 Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award, and a 2021 Avery Fisher Career Grant. She was Grand Prize winner of the 2020 Concert Artists Guild Competition, winner of the Kronberg Academy’s Prince of Hesse Prize (2021), Musical America’s New Artist of the Month (June 2021), a Performance Today Young Artist in Residence, and a YCAT Concordia Artist.

Solo Recitals at the Strand: Geneva Lewis, violin

Strand Theatre, Rockland

Explore the solar system with The Philadelphia Orchestra in Holst’s legendary and popular work The Planets in a program that also includes Copland’s American masterpiece Appalachian Spring Suite, led by Alsop. 

Alsop Conducts The Planets

Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater

Experience the grandeur of the cosmos through music with "Holst's The Planets Conducted by Alsop" at the Bravo Vail Music Festival. This awe-inspiring performance by The Philadelphia Orchestra, under the baton of the renowned Marin Alsop, takes place on Saturday, July 6, 2024, at 6pm at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in Vail, Colorado.

The evening promises an unforgettable journey through our solar system as depicted in Gustav Holst's legendary suite, The Planets. Each movement of this masterpiece represents a different planet, offering listeners a rich, auditory exploration of space, excluding Earth and Pluto. The program also features Aaron Copland's American masterpiece, Appalachian Spring Suite, adding a touch of terrestrial beauty to the celestial theme.

Marin Alsop, a conductor celebrated for her compelling interpretations and innovative programming, leads the performance. The concert also highlights the talents of The Evans Choir, directed by Catherine Sailer, and includes pieces such as REENA ESMAIL's REMember and Copland's Appalachian Spring, culminating in Holst's The Planets.

Enhance your experience with a pre-concert talk at 5:15 PM by Marc Shulgold, a former music critic for the Rocky Mountain News, who will offer insights into the evening's program.

Don't miss this stellar musical exploration that connects the wonders of the universe with the spirit of American landscapes. Secure your tickets now for a night under the stars with The Philadelphia Orchestra at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater.

Holst's The Planets Conducted By Alsop

Vail Recreation District Sports Department - Ford Park

Join us for an unforgettable evening of violin mastery with Maria Ioudenitch at Tannery Pond on Saturday, July 6, 2024, at 7:30 PM. Fresh from her recent performance in Carnegie Hall alongside the legendary violist Tabea Zimmermann, Maria Ioudenitch, an American-Russian violinist celebrated for her captivating performances and international competition triumphs, will grace the stage with a solo program that promises to enchant and inspire.

The evening's repertoire includes a diverse and challenging selection of works, showcasing the breadth of Ioudenitch's musicality and technical prowess. Audiences will be treated to Bach's D-minor Partita, BWV 1004, Lera Auerbach's par.ti.ta, Daniel Ott's Double Aria, Reena Esmail's Darshan, and Ysaÿe's Fifth Sonata, Op. 27. Each piece has been carefully chosen to highlight the unique qualities of Ioudenitch's playing and her innovative approach to classical and contemporary music.

This concert is proudly sponsored by Paul Cassidy and Vernon Evenson, and will take place at the Darrow School, located at 110 Darrow Road, New Lebanon, NY 12125. General Admission seating doors will open 30 minutes before the concert begins, ensuring all attendees have ample time to find their seats and settle in for the performance.

In a special gesture to encourage young music enthusiasts, all kids and college students will be admitted free at the door, making this an excellent opportunity for families and students to experience world-class music in an accessible and welcoming environment.

Maria Ioudenitch has captured the hearts of music lovers worldwide, not only through her competition successes but also through her deeply expressive and technically flawless performances. Her recent accolades include first prizes in the Ysaÿe, Tibor Varga, and Joseph Joachim international violin competitions in 2021, along with the prestigious Opus Klassik award in 2023 for Chamber Music Recording of the Year.

Don't miss this opportunity to witness a rising star in the classical music world. Secure your tickets now for an evening of exquisite music with Maria Ioudenitch at Tannery Pond.

Maria Ioudenitch, violin

Darrow School

Brahms engaged the horn in only one chamber-music work. The Trillium Ensemble presents his Horn, Violin and Piano Trio, where the horn takes center stage and summons both its lyrical and dramatic sides. Included in the program is Fauré’s Piano Trio in D Minor — one of the composer’s last works, which features charming and elegant themes — and Reena Esmail’s Saans (Breath), a work infused with elements of North Indian classical music.

Trillium Ensemble Plays Brahms

Symphony Center

### Event Description: Abeo Quartet at Princeton Symphony Orchestra

**Date and Time:** Thursday, June 13, 2024 - 7:00 PM  
**Venue:** Trinity Church, Princeton

**Event Overview:**
Join us for an enchanting evening with the Abeo Quartet, a distinguished ensemble formed at Juilliard in 2018. Recognized as a prizewinner at major chamber music competitions, the Abeo Quartet is rapidly gaining acclaim as one of the leading string quartets of its generation. This performance marks their debut at the Princeton Festival.

**Program:**
- **Reena Esmail:** String Quartet Ragamala
- **Dmitri Shostakovich:** String Quartet No. 11 in F Minor, Op. 122
- **Franz Schubert:** String Quartet No. 14 in D Minor, Death and the Maiden

**Performers:**
- **Njioma Grevious:** Violin
- **Rebecca Benjamin:** Violin
- **James Kang:** Viola
- **Macintyre Taback:** Cello

**Ticket Information:**
- General Admission: $40 and $65
- Youth (Ages 5-17): Half-price

**Additional Information:**
- **Accessibility:** The venue is accessible to all attendees.
- **Parking:** Available near the venue.
- **Health & Safety:** Measures will be in place to ensure the safety of all guests.

**Special Note:**
Enjoy a wonderful recording of the Abeo Quartet performing the first movement of Mendelssohn's Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, available on our website.

Don't miss this opportunity to experience the sublime artistry of the Abeo Quartet in an evening of masterful performances. Get your tickets now and be part of this unforgettable musical event!

Abeo Quartet

Trinity Church in Princeton

Beethoven and Mendelssohn are icons of classical music. Don’t miss the chance to hear two of the most popular composers of all time. The not-to-be missed concert also features the Festival debut of two spectacular artists. Conductor Stephanie Childress makes her Festival debut with the music of Indian-American composer Reena Esmail, who weaves Hindustani ragas and Western classical techniques in the captivating, tuneful 11-minute Teen Murti ( Three Statues ). SMF Alumna Rachel Breen takes time out from her thriving European career to make her Festival solo debut with Ludwig van Beethoven’s bold Piano Concerto No. 1. The program concludes with a final first—Felix Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 1, composed when he was just 15 and bursting with youthful vigor.

Beethoven And Mendelssohn

Sarasota Opera House

### Event Description: ROCO In Concert: Magnetic

**Date and Time:** Friday, June 7, 2024, at 11:00 AM

**Location:** Denney Theatre, Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, 790 Austin St, Houston, TX 77002, USA

**Sponsored by:** 
- Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation
- Carol Franc Buck Foundation
- Texas Commission on the Arts
- BMI

**Event Overview:**
Join us for an extraordinary musical experience at "ROCO In Concert: Magnetic," a showcase of collaboration and innovation led by ROCO Artistic Partner and conductor Mei-Ann Chen. This concert is part of the 2024 League of American Orchestras Conference in Houston and features a compelling program that highlights ROCO’s commitment to expanding the classical canon and supporting women composers.

**Program:**
- **Reena Esmail:** Teen Murti (Past ROCO World Premiere Commission)
- **Gabriela Lena Frank:** Elegia Andina
- **Jennifer Higdon:** Dance Card: V. Machina Rockus (Past ROCO World Premiere Commission)
- **Leanna Primiani:** Neither man nor money validate my worth (Past ROCO World Premiere Commission)
- **Heather Schmidt:** Solitaire (Past ROCO World Premiere Commission)
- **Errollyn Wallen:** Photography: I. Vivace
- **Plus:** The premiere of a work chosen from ROCO’s EarShot Readings, a program of the American Composers Orchestra, in partnership with the League of American Orchestras, American Composers Forum, and New Music USA.

**Special Highlights:**
- The concert will feature several of ROCO’s previously commissioned world premieres and passion project works.
- A new work by one of the finalists of ROCO and American Composers Orchestra’s EarShot Call for Scores by early career female composers will be premiered.
- The EarShot finalists’ works will be workshopped and recorded on June 5-6, 2024, in Houston, with selected participants collaborating with mentors who are established orchestra composers and industry leaders.

**Concert Length:** 1 hour

**Additional Information:**
For more details and to view the event location on Google Maps, please visit the ROCO website. Don't miss this unique opportunity to witness the innovative spirit of ROCO and the exceptional talents of contemporary composers.

ROCO In Concert: Magnetic

Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts

Beethoven’s stirring Symphony No. 3, “Heroic,” marked a decisive turn from the Classical to Romantic period, truly groundbreaking in both form and approach. This ambitious program also features Shostakovich’s sparkling Piano Concerto No. 1, performed by internationally celebrated pianist (and Festival favorite) Inon Barnatan, and Reena Esmail’s Testament (from Vishwas), which showcases the dexterous weaving of Indian and Western classical music we can expect from this year’s chamber music composer-in-residence.

Beethoven’s Third

Gaillard Center

NOVUS NY and Downtown Voices present the New York premiere of Reena Esmail’s Malhaar: A Requiem for Water, paired with Garth Neustadter’s Memory of Water, which will be performed by The Choir of Trinity Wall Street. A malhar is an Indian raga designed to beckon the rain; Esmail’s A Requiem for Water captures musically the beauty and awe of water while contemplating the fear and despair that surround its loss. As water exists beyond all beginnings and ends, Memory of Water considers the consciousness of water and how it carries in its memory both the splendor and devastation of our world.

NOVUS Renewal: Malhaar

St. Paul's Chapel

With repertoire spanning the canon to contemporary works, this beloved series is unparalleled in ambition and depth. Under the inspired curation of new Director of Chamber Music Paul Wiancko, globally renowned chamber musicians present 11 ingenious programs rich in revelry and fellowship. Paul’s inaugural season welcomes composer-in-residence Reena Esmail, along with an array of talented first-timers and Festival favorites ready to rock the Dock.

Bank of America Chamber Music

Dock Street Theatre

Join us for an unforgettable afternoon of chamber music at the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts in Katonah, NY, on Sunday, May 5, 2024, at 3:00 PM. The Abeo Quartet, the 2023-24 Ernst Stiefel String Quartet-in-Residence, will grace the stage in the intimate setting of the Music Room, presenting a program that spans the breadth of the string quartet repertoire.

The concert will feature an exquisite selection of works by late-Romantic Russian composers Alexander Glazunov and Dmitri Shostakovich, alongside contemporary composer Reena Esmail, who bridges the worlds of Indian and Western classical music. The highlight of the afternoon will be Franz Schubert’s "Death and the Maiden," a masterpiece that showcases Schubert’s emotional depth and melodic genius.

The Abeo Quartet, formed at Juilliard in 2018, has quickly risen to prominence, earning accolades for their dynamic performances and deep musical insights. The quartet comprises violinists Njioma Grevious and Rebecca Benjamin, violist James Kang, and cellist Mac Taback, each bringing their unique talents to create a cohesive and compelling ensemble sound.

This performance is part of the Abeo Quartet's yearlong residency at Caramoor, which includes outreach and performances designed to engage audiences of all ages. Don't miss this opportunity to experience the artistry of the Abeo Quartet in the beautiful surroundings of Caramoor.

Tickets are available now. Secure your seat for an afternoon of breathtaking music that promises to be a highlight of the season.

The Rosen House at Caramoor

Participants from Canada, the US, and Hong Kong have been rehearsing with the NAC Orchestra mentors to bring you brass arrangements of some of your favorites. Come hear them play together in Le Salon in advance of their appearance with the full NAC Orchestra!

NACO Mentorship Brass Chamber Concert

National Arts Centre

The power of women in mythology has been felt since the dawn of time. Explore the stories of timeless icons from Greek, Jewish, and Hindu traditions in this concert on April 20, at 8pm, in St. Paul's Chapel. Featuring a world premiere work by Reena Esmail, poetry and musical arrangement by Larry Rosenwald and Shira Kammen, and projections by Camilla Tassi. Co-commissioned by TENET Vocal Artists and NOVUS NY. Ticketed.

The Power of Mythology

Explore well-known works and discover new treasures of the musical repertory in our Guided Listening sessions with JoAnna Cochenet.

In our final Guided Listening of the year, we explore Reena Esmail’s Vishwas. From the composer’s website, we understand the principal story of this piece: “The word vishwas expresses the concept of fervent belief, or faith, in Hindi. Meera Bai, a celebrated saint-poet from 15th century India, is the quintessential embodiment of vishwas. Though she is forced into a traditional marriage to unite two kingdoms, she believes she is married to the Lord Krishna, a Hindu deity, and the events of her life are shaped around her fervent devotion to this intangible but omnipresent figure.”

Guided Listening: Reena Esmail’s Vishwas

Graduate Recital – Morgan Chan

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Composers have been inspired by all kinds of stories, legends, and tales – from great works of literature, to folk myths and poetry. This concert is all about music which tells a tale in sound. Featuring Paul Moravec’s Pulitzer-Prize winning piece Tempest Fantasy, this program will include performances by PCM faculty Nic Gerpe, Katelyn Vahala (pianos), and Brian Walsh (clarinet), violinist Alyssa Park and cellist Timothy Loo of the Lyris Quartet, and renowned sopranos Hila Plitmann and Elissa Johnston. We are also excited to feature guest narrator and actress Jane Kaczmarek.

Wicked Goat | Stories

Pasadena Conservatory of Music

In its annual PCMS concert, the “genuinely exciting” (New York Times) Aizuri Quartet presents a program that explores the idea of community in a multi-faceted way. It features works by four female composers, including Indian American composer Reena Esmail, whose raag-influenced Fantasie layers the voices of the string quartet to create a beautiful, swirling world that invites players and audience into the concert experience.

Aizuri Quartet

American Philosophical Society

NHSO Principal Clarinetist David Shifrin features on Mozart’s lovely Clarinet Concerto, on a program also including Esmail’s imaginative “Testament” and Tchaikovsky’s powerful “Pathetique” Symphony.

Mozart & Tchaikovsky

Yale University

The Four Seasons + Esmail

Troy Savings Bank Music Hall

In past seasons, Atlanta Master Chorale has performed with a range of guest artists on a variety of instruments, including a guitar, a harp, a cello, a violin, percussionists, a jazz trio, large and small orchestras, many vocal soloists, and, most recently, a bluegrass band. Plus, we have the great pleasure of making music with Jon Easter on piano and organ on a regular basis. But we have never performed the featured work of the March concert, “This Love Between Us: Prayers for Unity,” and we have never collaborated with anyone playing two of the instruments used in this work.

Same Light, Different Lanterns

Emory University

Hugh Wolff and the NEC Symphony perform a program of works which demonstrate just how vital music is to human struggle, and what revolution in artistic expression sounds like.

NEC Symphony + Hugh Wolff: Esmail, Thompson, Shostakovich

New England Conservatory

Music for Food Benefit Concert

Cleveland Institute of Music

New Jersey Symphony: Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons

New Jersey Performing Arts Center

Oakland Winterfest: Aizuri Quartet - Metro Detroit Debut

Oakland University

Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons

Count Basie Center for the Arts

Join Principal Guest Conductor Dalia Stasevska and the BBC Symphony Orchestra for works by 3 UK and 2 American composers. There’s the UK premiere of RE|Member, by American Reena Esmail, who works between Hindustani and Western classical music – and the world premiere of Drifting Haze by a former BBC Proms Young Composer, Sasha Scott. We travel to ancient China with Dame Judith Weir’s Natural History, a setting of four brief texts taken from Chuang-tzu, a classic collection of Taoist writings – with soprano Lucy Crowe.

Celebrate women composers and performers with the BBC SO

BBC Maida Vale Studios

Three works position the voice of the solo oboe in a series of contrasting musical worlds. Mexican composer Mario Lavista evokes the myth of Marsyas and Apollo, exploring an encounter between human brokenness and divinity. Marsyas, represented by the oboe, traverses a landscape of shifting “harmonic fields” generated by eight crystal water glasses. Indian-American composer Reena Esmail, known for her synthesis of Hindustani and Western classical traditions, gives us a piece based on five yogic breaths (pranayam). Each movement invites the listener (but not the oboist!) into a different pattern of breath practice. Finally, we present the North American premiere of Australian composer Lachlan Skipworth’s Quartet for oboe, violin, cello and piano. It’s a brilliant new work that sparkles with joy and virtuosity, truly a balm for the spirit.

Sara Fraker, Oboe – Faculty Artist Series Recital

University of Arizona

Symphony Piano Trio

First Lutheran Church, Galesburg

Knox-Galesburg Symphony

Featuring SPCO violinist Maureen Nelson’s new arrangement of Medieval works, this program is a musical response to the poet Rumi who wrote: “The lamps are different, but the Light is the same. One matter, one energy, one Light, one Light-mind, endlessly emanating all things.” Opening with music of Hildegard von Bingen, this Express Concert is a journey of light through the eyes of different composers. At the heart lies Franz Joseph Haydn’s uplifting Midday Symphony and Osvaldo Golijov’s lush Tenebrae for String Quartet.

Express Concert: Haydn’s Midday Symphony

Ted Mann Concert Hall

Temple Israel

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts

Saint Paul's United Church of Christ

Claire Davis, Viola – Masters Recital

Kate Wegener, Oboe

The Juilliard School

Delight in the traditional Christmas carols and festive folksongs from around the world. Big, bold versions of your favorite holiday music, sung as only the Los Angeles Master Chorale can. Fun for the whole family, children aged six and older are welcome to attend

Festival of Carols

Walt Disney Concert Hall

Guest Hindustani violinist virtuoso Kala Ramnath, renowned as the leading 21st century practitioner of Hindustani classical violin, will take the stage to perform highly sought-after and multiple-award-winning Indian-American composer Reena Esmail’s Violin Concerto, who wrote this piece specifically for Ramnath and Hindustani violin — a rhythmically captivating tour-de-force for orchestra and Hindustani violin. The concerto aptly channels Esmail’s talent for weaving Western and Indian classical music traditions to paint melodic pictures both rapturous and melancholic. As part of this musical presentation, Long Beach Symphony is proud to be a participant in the CA FESTIVAL CELEBRATION OF NEW MUSIC.

Bernstein

Terrace Theater, Long Beach Performing Arts Center

Long Beach Symphony welcomes renowned Hindustani violinist Kala Ramnath to the Terrace Theater as she performs the Hindustani Violin Concerto written for Ramnath by multiple-award-winning Indian-American composer Reena Esmail in this mesmerizing, rhythmically captivating tour-de-force for orchestra and Hindustani violinist.

Long Beach Symphony

The BBC Symphony Chorus with pianist Michael Higgins survey the world and its seasons through Jonathan Dove’s virtuosic cantata for double chorus The Passing of the Year and shorter pieces that take us through the seasons from Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Caroline Shaw and Reena Esmail. The concert begins with pieces that look at matters earthly and divine from Brahms, Michael Higgins and Sven-David Sandström. Conducted by BBC Symphony Chorus Director Neil Ferris.

The BBC Symphony Chorus at Maida Vale

Ensemble Connect

In a concert produced in collaboration with the Ojai Music Festival, Vimbayi Kaziboni leads new music by California composers.

Green Umbrella

Since forming in 2010, Neave Trio – violinist Anna Williams, cellist Mikhail Veselov, and pianist Eri Nakamura – has earned enormous praise for its engaging, cutting­edge performances. WQXR explains, “‘Neave’ is actually a Gaelic name meaning ‘bright’ and ‘radiant,’ both of which certainly apply to this trio's music making.” The group’s 2019 album Her Voice, on Chandos Records, was named one of the best recordings of the year by both The New York Times and BBC Radio 3. The Boston Musical Intelligencer reports, “it is inconceivable that they will not soon be among the busiest chamber ensembles going,” and “their unanimity, communication, variety of touch, and expressive sensibility rate first tier.”

Neave Trio

United Methodist Church Ridgecrest

Pre-College Recital - Ava Pakiam, violin

Bowes Center

The Ojai Music Festival presents a special concert celebrating the unique musical creativity of a new generation of California composers, produced as part of the California Festival: A Celebration of New Music. The program brings together a new work for solo piano by Samuel Carl Adams for the brilliant pianist Conor Hanick and a kinetic trio for violin, clarinet, and vibes by Dylan Mattingly. M.A. Tiesenga’s Ganymedes brings together the otherworldly sound of an electronic hurdy-gurdy playing with amplified string quartet. And Reena Esmail’s Ragamala adds the mesmerizing sound of Hindustani vocals to a string quartet, evoking the tradition sounding the raga as a starting point for elaboration and reflection.

Ojai Festival Ensembles

Ojai Valley School

Experience intimate chamber music programs curated and performed by small ensembles of SF Symphony musicians. In this concert: music by California composers Samuel Adams, Reena Esmail, and Sarn Oliver, followed by Johannes Brahms’s String Quartet in A minor. This concert is presented as part of the California Festival: A Celebration of New Music.

Chamber Music at Davies Symphony Hall

Davies Symphony Hall

Experience an intimate chamber music program curated and performed by small ensembles of SF Symphony musicians. In this concert: music by California composers Reena Esmail, Jason Hainsworth, and Sarn Oliver, followed by Johannes Brahms’s String Quartet in A minor.

Chamber Music

Left Coast Chamber Ensemble and the San Francisco Girls Chorus team up to present a program that centers the voices of women composers, primarily from California.

This Is What It Means Left Coast Chamber Ensemble and San Francisco Girls Chorus

First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Left Coast and the San Francisco Girls Chorus team up to present a program which centers the voices of Californian women composers at the California Festival. 

This Is What It Means

Experience the sublime and the spectacular at the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra's upcoming concert on September 30, 2023. This not-to-be-missed event will feature a rich program that includes the evocative "The Blue Room Violin Concerto" by Reena Esmail, Samuel Barber's deeply moving "Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 14," and Leonard Bernstein's vibrant "Overture to Candide" and "Symphonic Dances from West Side Story."

"The Blue Room," composed by the talented Reena Esmail, draws inspiration from a poignant poem and is a testament to love and loss. This piece, which premiered in 2007, showcases Esmail's ability to blend classical music traditions with her unique voice, making it a must-hear for any music enthusiast.

Samuel Barber's "Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 14," a cornerstone of American classical music, promises to captivate the audience with its lyrical beauty and emotional depth. Composed between 1939 and 1940, this piece has enchanted audiences worldwide with its rich melodies and intricate orchestration.

Leonard Bernstein's contributions to the evening, the "Overture to Candide" and "Symphonic Dances from West Side Story," will bring a burst of energy and color to the concert. Bernstein's ability to weave complex emotions into his music, along with his innovative use of rhythm and melody, ensures these pieces remain timeless classics.

The concert will take place at the Anne S. Richardson Auditorium at Ridgefield High School, offering a splendid venue for these magnificent works. Under the baton of the esteemed conductor Robert Bolyard, and featuring the virtuosic violinist Aubree Oliverson, this evening promises to be an unforgettable journey through the power and beauty of music.

Don't miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in the world-class performances of the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra. Secure your tickets now and be part of a musical experience that celebrates the greatest music ever written.

American

Ridgefield Playhouse

Shelley Monroe, Bassoon

For over two decades, the twice Grammy nominated Imani Winds has led both a revolution and evolution of the wind quintet through their dynamic playing, adventurous programming, imaginative collaborations, and outreach endeavors that have inspired audiences of all ages and backgrounds. We are thrilled to officially welcome them to Tippet Rise for their concert debut, having had the privilege of collaborating with them on recording and performance film projects over the past few years. In this special outdoor performance at the Domo by Ensamble Studio, members Brandon Patrick George (flute), Toyin Spellman-Diaz (oboe), Kevin Newton (horn), Mark Dover (clarinet), and Monica Ellis (bassoon) will perform their program titled Black and Brown, which celebrates composers of color including Jeff Scott, Paquito D’Rivera, and Wayne Shorter. The program also features works written for Imani Winds: Reena Esmail’s The Light is the Same, commissioned by The Lied Center of Kansas and premiered in 2017, and Julio Medaglia’s Belle Epoque en Sud-America, commissioned by the La Jolla Music Society, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Da Camera of Houston, and the Library of Congress, which premiered in 2006.

Imani Winds

Orli Shaham with Festival Musicians

Sun Valley Pavilion

Festival of Contemporary Music. All Reena Ismail program.

TLI Presents: A Curated Concert by Reena Esmail

Linde Center for Music and Learning

The critically acclaimed Viano Quartet returns for the Bravo! Vail premiere of Reena Esmail’s Zeher (Poison) in a program that also includes string quartets by Bartók and Smetana.

Community Concert VI

Vail Interfaith Chapel

SF Symphony Collaborative Partner and classical singer Julia Bullock joins Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Orchestra for a program that sings the American story in works by George Gershwin and Margaret Bonds. Reena Esmail’s Black Iris takes its title from the eponymous Georgia O'Keeffe painting and grapples with the recent #metoo movement. The program closes with Maurice Ravel’s ravishing Daphnis et Chloé, telling the story of two lovers and their wildly adventurous lives. 

Esa-Pekka Salonen & Julia Bullock

Niloufar Iravani  /Commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation, World Premiere by the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra.
Beethoven’s glorious Symphony No. 9 and the famous “Ode to Joy” is a call for the triumph of universal brotherhood over desperation.  Delta David Gier pairs this message with Reena Esmail’s “My Sister’s Voice” and a world premiere by Niloufar Iravani.

Beethoven’s 9th

Washington Pavilion

Tulsa Performing Arts Center

Join us for an unforgettable evening of music with the Seraph Brass Quintet, presented by the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association. This captivating concert is set to take place on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at 7:30 PM, with a special pre-concert talk beginning at 7:00 PM. The venue for this musical extravaganza is the First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge, located at 1350 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Seraph Brass, founded by the renowned trumpet soloist Mary Elizabeth Bowden, is an ensemble on a mission to showcase the excellence of female brass musicians and highlight artists from marginalized groups. As winners of the 2019 American Prize in Chamber Music, Seraph Brass is known for their dynamic performances and engaging programming. The quintet draws from a roster of America’s top brass players, including Mary Elizabeth Bowden, Raquel Samayoa, Rachel Velvikis, Victoria Garcia, and Cristina Cutts Dougherty.

The Oak Ridge concert promises a diverse and captivating program, featuring music by classical giants such as Edvard Grieg, Giuseppe Verdi, Gioacchino Rossini, Clara Schumann, and Franz Liszt. Additionally, the evening will include works by contemporary composers Kevin Day, Kevin McKee, David Chesky, Grigoraș Dinicu, Reena Esmail, Catherine McMichael, and Anthony DiLorenzo, offering a blend of original transcriptions, newly commissioned works, and well-known classics.

Don't miss this opportunity to experience the brilliance of Seraph Brass in the beautiful setting of the First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge. Tickets are available online at https://orcma.vbotickets.com/events. For more information about Seraph Brass and to follow their journey, visit their website at https://www.seraphbrass.com/ and connect with them on social media.

Prepare to be mesmerized by an evening of stunning brass music that celebrates female musicianship and innovation.

Seraph Brass Quintet

First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge

 + Hugh Wolff: Esmail, Thompson, Shostakovich

In an intrepid act of programming, the insightful young violinist Alexi Kenney matches well-loved solo works by J.S. Bach with new compositions by the best and brightest voices in contemporary music. Kenney, a recipient of a Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award and an Avery Fisher Career Grant, enjoys melding the new with the old, the familiar with the undiscovered, and here highlights the spiritual and mystical dimensions of Bach’s music. The revered Chaconne from the Partita in D minor is the jewel at the center of Kenney’s recital, illuminating recent works for solo violin (with and without electronics) by a host of contemporary composers. The title Shifting Ground references the heart of all Baroque music—the omnipresent ground bass—upon which variations are built. “Spellbinding…[an] architect’s eye for structure and space and a tone that ranges from the achingly fragile to full-bodied robustness” (The New York Times).

Alexi Kenney, violin

University of California, Berkeley

Notes from California

Paramount Theatre

Boston Conservatory Brass Quintet members Joseph Foley, Richard Kelley, Anne Howarth, Angel Subero, and Kenneth Amis perform a captivating evening of chamber music.

Artistry in Action: Faculty Brass Quintet 2023

Boston Conservatory at Berklee

Guest conductor Ankush Kumar Bahl, music director of the Omaha Symphony, leads your BPO in a tour de force. Reena Esmail’s “Testament” depicts the story of Meera Bai, a celebrated saint-poet from 15th century India who summons a mighty storm as a symbol of her devotion to Lord Krishna. Technically mesmerizing violinist Paul Huang tackles Bruch’s popular First Violin Concerto. Schumann’s uplifting Second Symphony was composed following his recovery from a nervous breakdown.

Schumann’s Second

Kleinhans Music Hall

Intense, beautiful, and totally unpredictable, our wildly popular—and wildly unique—SoundBox series delivers expanded live music experiences that push the envelope in fearless ways.

Reena Esmail

Long known as a work calling for humanity to unite as “brothers,” Beethoven’s mighty Ninth Symphony has stirred whole societies to lofty ideals since its premiere in 1824. Los Angeles based composer Reena Esmail epitomizes the many facets of being and having a sister in her radiant work that joins Western Classical Music and Hindustani Classical Music traditions. The California Lutheran University Choir and Pepperdine University Concert Choir join leading vocal soloists under the direction of Michael Christie.

Ode to Joy

Rancho Campana Performing Arts Center

Kavli Theatre Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza

Chamber V

Piedmont Center for the Arts

Members of Seraph Brass have performed with such esteemed ensembles as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Musicians from Marlboro, Luzern Music Festival in Switzerland, National Symphony, Brass Band of Battle Creek, Daejeon Philharmonic and Auckland Philharmonia. They currently hold positions in the Richmond Symphony, World and European Brass Association, Louisville Orchestra, Artosphere Orchestra, University of North Texas, University of Richmond, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, University of Wisconsin-Madison and Shenandoah Conservatory.

Ridgecrest Presbyterian Church

Violinist Benjamin Baker won first prize at the 2016 Young Concert Artists International Auditions and third prize at the Michael Hill Competition in New Zealand in 2017. He demonstrates "virtuosity, refinement, and youthful exuberance" (New York Times) in his music and has performed as a soloist with London's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the English Chamber Orchestra, the National Children's Orchestra in Manchester, and more. 

Benjamin Baker, violin

Pepperdine University

Join us at the First Congregational Church of Berkeley! Let your inner child come out to play with Ravel's Mother Goose Suite and a reimagined, uniquely Berkeley retelling of Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf, featuring the remarkable illustrator and graphic journalist Wendy MacNaughton as our narrator. We're also delighted to feature Reena Esmail's Meri Sakhi Ki Avaaz (My Sister's Voice) for Hindustani singer, soprano, and orchestra, which takes listeners on a cross-cultural journey that explores family and community across the globe.

Reena Esmail

Composer

Events

Upcoming events

23 - 24 Nov, 2024

Orchestral Virtuosity · Fresno Philharmonic Orchestra

Nov 24, 2024

Eastman Chorale · Eastman School of Music

Nov 27 - Dec 14, 2024

The Sixteen at Christmas · The Sixteen

6 - 8 Dec, 2024

Sparks Fly, Voices Soar: Brahms and Fauré · Pittsburgh Cultural Trust

18 - 19 Dec, 2024

A Mother’s Love: Amsterdam · The Sixteen

Past events

Nov 17, 2024

Yeol Eum Son Plays Dvořák · Naples Philharmonic

Nov 3, 2024

Sacred Heritage · Baltimore Choral Arts Society

About

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