Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program
In This SectionThirty orchestras from across the United States will take part in the League of American Orchestras’ Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program, the League and American Composers Orchestra (ACO) have announced. This national consortium ensures that new works by women and nonbinary composers will receive multiple performances throughout the country. The consortium’s initial six lead orchestra-composer pairings were previously announced, with more than fifty orchestras applying for the additional twenty-four spots:
- Brittany J. Green and Jacksonville Symphony
- Moni (Jasmine) Guo and Dallas Symphony Orchestra
- Karena Ingram and Memphis Symphony Orchestra
- Chelsea Komschlies and Tucson Symphony Orchestra
- Marina López and Grand Rapids Symphony
- Meilina Tsui and Artis Naples—Naples Philharmonic
Twenty-four additional orchestras will be selected over the coming months.
The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral 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.
2023-24 Consortium Composers
The Program
Since its inception in 2014, the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program has shown impressive results:
- More than forty women composers benefitted from career development via the EarShot Readings
- Twenty-eight composers have now received commissions
- Twenty-three premieres have been completed:
- Julia Adolphe Unearth, Release (Concerto for Viola and Orchestra) premiered November 2016.
- Courtney Bryan Rejoice premiered November 2019.
- Anna Clyne This Moment premiered July 2023.
- Cindy Cox Dreaming a world’s edge premiered May 2022.
- Melody Eötvös Red Dirt | Silver Rain premiered October 2015.
- Stacy Garrop Goddess Triptych premiered March 2022.
- Sarah Gibson* to make this mountain taller premiered March 2023.
- Brittany J. Green TESTIFY! premiered September 2024.
- Robin Holcomb No Thing Lives to Itself premiered January 2020.
- Niloufar Iravani Reflections premiered April 2023.
- Chen-Hui Jen in eternal dusk premiered January 2018.
- Wang Jie The Winter that United Us premiered June 2022.
- Angel Lam Please let there be a paradise… premiered April 2024.
- Han Lash Double Concerto for Piano, Harp, and Orchestra premiered November 2019.
- Wang Lu Surge premiered January 2023.
- Fang Man Song of the Flaming Phoenix (Symphonic Poem for Sheng and Large Orchestra) premiered March 2022.
- Andreia Pinto Correia Ciprés premiered April 2018.
- Leanna Primiani Neither Man Nor Money Validate My Worth premiered February 2022.
- Hilary Purrington Words for departure premiered October 2022.
- Gity Razaz Methuselah (In Chains of Time) premiered May 2023.
- Andrea Reinkemeyer Water Sings Fire premiered January 2019.
- Arlene Sierra Kiskadee premiered October 2023.
- Xi Wang Lotus Prayer premiered June 2023.
Many of the composers have received additional commissions and career opportunities as a direct result of participating in the program. Networking, mentoring, career development, and community engagement opportunities are built into the program, and the composer cohort meets annually at the League’s National Conference.
The program is linked to EarShot, an initiative of American Composers Orchestra in collaboration with American Composers Forum, the League of American Orchestras, and New Music USA. The six commission recipients were selected from women and nonbinary composers who have participated in EarShot Reading sessions.
*The League mourns the passing of Sarah Gibson, 38.
Meet the Composers
2022-23 Consortium
2022 Commission Recipient
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2022 Commission Recipient
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2022-23 Consortium
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.
Previous Commission Recipients
2014 Commission Recipient
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2018 Commission Recipient
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2015 Commission Recipient
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2018 Commission Recipient
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2014 Commission Recipient
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2017 Commission Recipient
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2017 Commission Recipient
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2020 Commission Recipient
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2016 Commission Recipient
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2016 Commission Recipient
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2016 Commission Recipient
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2018 Commission Recipient
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2020 Commission Recipient
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2020 Commission Recipient
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2017 Commission Recipient
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2015 Commission Recipient
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Banner credit: Premiere of Han Lash’s Double Concerto by the Artis-Naples Philharmonic, Arvo Volmer conducting, with Lash and Jeremy Denk as soloists. Courtesy of Artis-Naples.
Photos courtesy of composers, credits available on individual links.
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