Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program

The League of American Orchestras is thrilled to announce its latest orchestra consortium and commissioning program, in partnership with the American Composers Orchestra, as part of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program.

Six additional orchestras will be invited to receive $2,500 in support to join the consortium for performances in 2026-27, resulting in a total of nine orchestras performing three newly-commissioned works.

Composers and lead orchestras include:

• Angel Lam and Quad City Symphony Orchestra
• Leanna Primiani and ROCO
• Stacy Garrop and Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra

We invite you to join the consortium and help make a major impact on orchestral programming for years to come!

Fill out this form to become one of six additional orchestras in the consortium; two orchestras will be selected to work with each of the three composers.

Benefits for Orchestras: 

• Present the local premiere of the newly-commissioned work. There is no commission fee required for your orchestra’s participation.
• Receive $2,500 to offset costs you might incur (marketing, transportation for the composer, shipping of parts/score, education/community events, etc.). 
• Receive assistance in design and implementation of composer-led educational/community-focused programming.
• Be part of a national announcement when the consortium is finalized; all premieres and performances will be marketed nationally through the League and ACO’s communications channels.

Requirements for Participation:

• Program your paired composer’s 25-30 minute new orchestral work (after it has been premiered by the lead orchestra) in the 2026-27 season. 
• Provide travel and lodging for the composer to attend the local premiere and related events.
• Engage the composer in rehearsals and community educational programs when you premiere her work. Composers are eager to attend rehearsals and to meet your orchestra, board, and community. 
• Be a member orchestra of the League of American Orchestras.

From 2014-2019, the League commissioned 16 women composers for individual world premieres prior to establishing the current consortium model.  

Through this repeat performances initiative, we are providing $2,500 in support for up to 15 orchestras to perform one of the works by these composers (see the complete composer list or view the chart of works (PDF)) during the 2025-26 or 2026-27 season. 

Within the proposal, orchestras may indicate their interest in performing up to 5 of the 16 works and share how the orchestra would engage the composer via public events surrounding the performance. The League and ACO will match composers and orchestras based on preferences in the RFP, ensuring as many additional performances as possible.

Fill out this form to indicate your interest in performing one of these exciting works.

Benefits for Orchestra: 

• Receive $2,500 to support the performance, including rental costs and composer travel.
• Receive assistance in design and implementation of composer-led educational/community-focused programming.
• Be part of a national announcement when all selections are finalized, and performances will be marketed nationally through the League and ACO’s communications channels.

Requirements for Participation:

• Program the selected work in the 2025-26 or 2026-27 season. 
• Provide travel and lodging for the composer to attend the local premiere and related events.
• Engage the composer in rehearsals and community educational programs when you present her work. Composers are eager to attend rehearsals and to meet your orchestra, board, and community. 
• Be a member orchestra of the League of American Orchestras.

Please fill out the response form by Friday, November 15, 2024.

Thirty orchestras took part in the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program’s first consortium, comprised of orchestras from nineteen U.S. states and Canada (lead orchestras in bold):

Akron Symphony Orchestra (OH) and Gity Razaz
Aspen Music Festival and School (CO) and Wang Lu
Berkeley Symphony (CA) and Gity Razaz
Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra (Ottawa, ON) and Gity Razaz
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (OH) and Wang Lu
Columbus Symphony (OH) and Anna Clyne
Dallas Symphony Orchestra (TX) and Arlene Sierra
Des Moines Symphony (IA) and Wang Lu
Detroit Symphony Orchestra (MI) (lead orchestra) and Arlene Sierra
Idaho State-Civic Symphony and Sarah Gibson
Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra and Arlene Sierra
Jacksonville Symphony (FL) and Angel Lam
Kansas City Symphony (MO) (lead orchestra) and Angel Lam
Knoxville Symphony Orchestra (TN) and Sarah Gibson
Lansing Symphony Orchestra (MI) and Sarah Gibson
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and Arlene Sierra
National Symphony Orchestra (DC) and Anna Clyne
New York Philharmonic (lead orchestra) and Wang Lu
Orchestra Lumos (CT) and Angel Lam
Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra (FL) and Anna Clyne
Pensacola Symphony Orchestra (FL) and Wang Lu
The Philadelphia Orchestra (PA) (lead orchestra) and Anna Clyne
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PA) and Sarah Gibson
Portland Columbia Symphony (OR) and Anna Clyne
Quad City Symphony Orchestra (IA) and Angel Lam
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (NY) and Gity Razaz
San Diego Symphony (CA) (lead orchestra) and Gity Razaz
Sarasota Orchestra (FL) (lead orchestra) and Sarah Gibson
Utah Symphony & Opera and Angel Lam
Wheeling Symphony Orchestra (WV) and Arlene Sierra

Learn more about the 2022 commission recipients.

The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program for women composers (formerly the Women Composers Readings and Commissions program) is an initiative of the League of American Orchestras, in partnership with American Composers Orchestra (ACO) and supported by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.