July Newsletter - plus, additional film scoring section!
Meet our July featured alum: Hannah Chen
Hannah Chen (Wildflower ‘20, ‘22) was selected as the winner of the Inaugural 2023 EXT Pop-Ups Commission Contest in a partnership between EXTENSITY and Wildflower Composers.
Hannah will receive a $500 award to compose a 5-8 minute piece for unaccompanied cello or violin, which will be premiered by a professional musician at a NYC EXT Pop-Ups Concert in winter, ’24 (TBA).
About the piece, Hannah says,
“The piece I will compose will reflect the importance of tea in various cultures. Tea can often be a calming ritual that brings people together and strengthens community…In my piece, I want to capture the feeling of stillness and calmness that I associate with tea culture. Some of the sounds I would utilize include harmonics, circular bowing and air sounds/white noise, and other sounds that are similar in timbre to water or flowing tea. I want this piece to bridge the gap between composer, performer, and audience and to serve as a visceral, meditative experience.”
Congratulations, Hannah!
UPDATE: New section added to our fall Film Scoring course!
Due to high interest, we have added an additional Wednesday evening section of our Introduction to Film Scoring course. Our Tuesday section is now fully enrolled.
Introduction to Film Scoring with Prof. Alison Plante and Berklee Online
** CLOSED ** Tuesdays from 7–8:30pm eastern, September 5 – October 10
** NEW SECTION ** Wednesdays from 7–8:30pm eastern, September 6 – October 11
Humans and Computers: Interactivity in Electronic Music with Dr. Flannery Cunningham and SPLICE
Wednesdays from 7:30–9pm eastern, October 11 – November 15
Admissions are rolling, and there is no fee to apply.
Each course runs weekly for 90 minutes via Zoom, and tuition is $200 per course. We're providing discounts if you are accepted to multiple courses, and also have raised significant financial aid for those who qualify for need-based aid.
Contact us with any questions: erin@wildflowercomposers.org.
Meet our new board members!
Board of Directors update
Welcoming new board members: Aiden Feltkamp and Paola Buitrago
We are so excited to welcome two new members to the Wildflower Board of Directors: Aiden Feltkamp and Paola Buitrago! Learn more about them below.
Aiden K. Feltkamp (they/he) is a disabled trans nonbinary writer and producer whose work platforms marginalized voices and the transformative power of music. Most recently, they wrote the libretto for an opera about Emily Dickinson (Emily & Sue) and curated New Music Shelf’s Anthology of New Music for Trans & Nonbinary Voices, Vol. 1. They live in Jersey City with their partner, cat, two parrots, and robot dog.
Paola Buitrago (she/her) is an accountant with more than ten years of experience in accounting roles. In addition, she has an MBA in Finance and is now a member of Wildflower Composers organization's board of directors. Paola and her husband, composer James Diaz, are originally from Bogotá, Colombia and now reside in West Philadelphia.
Don’t miss out on our upcoming fall Virtual Mini-Courses!
Admissions are rolling, and there is no fee to apply.
Introduction to Film Scoring with Prof. Alison Plante and Berklee Online
Tuesdays from 7–8:30pm eastern, September 5 – October 10
Humans and Computers: Interactivity in Electronic Music with Dr. Flannery Cunningham and SPLICE
Wednesdays from 7:30–9pm eastern, October 11 – November 15
Each course runs weekly for 90 minutes via Zoom, and tuition is $200 per course. We're providing discounts if you are accepted to multiple courses, and also have raised significant financial aid for those who qualify for need-based aid.
Contact us with any questions: erin@wildflowercomposers.org.
2023 UUCWC Commission Winner!
Commission announcement
Madeline Cheng announced as winner of the 2023 UU Crossing Chorale Commission
We are thrilled to announce this winner of this year’s Unitarian Universalist Church at Washington Crossing Commission - alum Madeline Cheng (‘20)!
The Crossing Chorale is a volunteer choir of the Unitarian Universalist Church at Washington Crossing. The Chorale offers up a commission and $400 prize to a Wildflower alum from any year. The winning composer receives two virtual composition lessons from Wildflower Executive Director, Erin Busch, as well as a recorded premiere performance in the UUCWC sanctuary.
Congrats, Madeline!
Don’t miss out on our upcoming fall Virtual Mini-Courses!
Admissions are rolling, and there is no fee to apply.
Introduction to Film Scoring with Prof. Alison Plante and Berklee Online
Tuesdays from 7–8:30pm eastern, September 5 – October 10
Humans and Computers: Interactivity in Electronic Music with Dr. Flannery Cunningham and SPLICE
Wednesdays from 7:30–9pm eastern, October 11 – November 15
Each course runs weekly for 90 minutes via Zoom, and tuition is $200 per course. We're providing discounts if you are accepted to multiple courses, and also have raised significant financial aid for those who qualify for need-based aid.
Contact us with any questions: erin@wildflowercomposers.org.
June Newsletter
Our first Virtual Mini-Course in review – plus, two world premieres by Tammy Huynh and Hope Salmonson!
“[I appreciated Melissa’s] vulnerability and the stories she shared about her own journey. It helped me realize that there isn't necessarily a box we have to fit into and that there isn't one right path to get to being a successful composer.”
Anonymous student from “Beyond the Double Bar: Building a Composing Career”
Our first Virtual Mini-Course, Beyond the Double Bar, was a true success! We had a great cohort of new students and alum, and covered the career of a composer and freelancer. Special thanks to our board president, Melissa Dunphy, for leading this informative course.
Don’t miss out on our upcoming fall Virtual Mini-Courses!
Admissions are rolling, and there is no fee to apply.
Introduction to Film Scoring with Prof. Alison Plante and Berklee Online
Tuesdays from 7–8:30pm eastern, September 5 – October 10
Humans and Computers: Interactivity in Electronic Music with Dr. Flannery Cunningham and SPLICE
Wednesdays from 7:30–9pm eastern, October 11 – November 15
Each course runs weekly for 90 minutes via Zoom, and tuition is $200 per course. We're providing discounts if you are accepted to multiple courses, and also have raised significant financial aid for those who qualify for need-based aid.
Contact us with any questions: erin@wildflowercomposers.org.
World Premiere: Tammy Huynh’s “be the cyborg” with the Asian Arts Initiative
On June 2nd, we celebrated the culmination of Tammy Huynh’s residency at Wildflower and Asian Arts Initiative with the premiere of her commissioned work be the cyborg, and other songs from her upcoming album, Not Suited for Public Consumption. The performance also featured dancer Arien Wilkerson. Thanks to all who joined!
Composer and performer Tammy Huynh (also known as mitamu) has been in residence with Wildflower Composers and the Asian Arts Initiative since February 2023. During this time, she led several composition workshops with the Youth Arts Workshop students at the Asian Arts Initiative.
World Premiere: Hope Salmonson’s “Ubi caritas” with the Women’s Sacred Music Project and Convoco Octet
On May 27th and 28th, in collaboration with the Women’s Sacred Music Project, alum Hope Salmonson (‘21) had her piece Ubi caritas premiered by the Convoco Octet. Take a listen to her piece here!
The Women’s Sacred Music Project is an organization that discovers, presents, and supports the creation of sacred works by female composers. Since 2019, WSMP has offered an annual $500 commission to a Wildflower alum to compose a new sacred vocal work. Congrats, Hope!
May Newsletter
Wildflower Alumni: College Update
This month’s newsletter features alums who have committed to undergraduate and graduate programs starting this fall. Congratulations to all of the talented composers below! We are so proud of what you have accomplished so far, and can’t wait to see what you do next.
Lily Koslow (‘20) will be attending Yale School of Music, for a Master of Music in Composition.
Veda Hingert-McDonald (‘20, ‘21) will be starting a Doctor of Musical Arts in Violin Performance at University of Arizona, working as a Teaching Assistant.
Hannah Moore (‘21) will be starting a Doctoral Degree in Percussion Performance at the Hartt school (University of Hartford) in the fall.
Grace Coberly (‘20) will be starting at George Mason University for a Master’s in Music Education (Orff Emphasis).
Gabriella Cariddo (‘22) has committed to Eastman School of Music for undergraduate studies in Music Theory and Composition with a performance area in harpsichord.
Anagha Kapsi (‘21) has committed to the Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University, with plans to pursue violin performance and health science.
Nat Penn (‘20) will be going to Boston University as an undergraduate composition major (hoping to double major in physics).
Congratulations to all Wildflower alums! We are honored to have been a part of your compositional journey.
World premiere performance with Asian Arts Initiative on June 2
Join us for the culmination of Tammy Huynh’s residency as our 2023 Resident Composer and Teaching Artist with the Asian Arts Initiative!
be the cyborg is a three movement piece commissioned by Wildflower Composers and Asian Arts Initiative. This piece reexamines how oppression has influenced how we treat and view our bodies. Through this piece, we will go through death, creation, and rebirth as we redefine how we view our bodies – ultimately creating a new found autonomy in us. be the cyborg is part of a larger work titled (NOT) SUITED FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION. The concert will include other works from this project and explore themes such as futurism, hyper-consumerism, and decolonization.
be the cyborg: world premiere by Tammy Huynh
Friday, June 2 at 8pm
Asian Arts Initiative
1219 Vine St.
Tickets offered on a sliding scale $15–25.
Email us for a student discount code!
Highlight Reel: Performance with Network for New Music
On Sunday, May 7th, alum Danity Pike (‘22) had her piece “Cassandra” performed at Network for New Music’s final concert of the 2022-23 season by performers Tom Kraines (cello), Sean Bailey (clarinet), and Charles Abramovik (piano).
Congratulations, Danity!
Call for Scores with Epiphany Singers
Epiphany Singers and Wildflower Composer seek SATB a capella scores for the Epiphany Singers winter 2023 concert. 1-2 pieces will be selected for performance.
Eligible composers are:
Between the ages of 18 and 30 (this is to match the age of the members in the choir)
Reside within 30 miles of Philadelphia
Female, transgender, nonbinary, and/or genderqueer
Eligible scores are:
Composed for SATB a capella (minimal splits)
Intermediate to advanced level
Work thematically with a winter season concert
Approximate duration of 2–5 minutes
Scores which have been previously performed, recorded, published, awarded, etc. are still eligible.
Deadline to submit is June 30.
April Newsletter
Meet our April featured alum: Danity Pike
Danity Pike (Wildflower ‘22) was selected by Network for New Music to have her piece “Cassandra” performed at their final concert of the 2022-23 season.
The Network for New Music Performance is a new opportunity for Wildflower alums. This renowned Philadelphia-based new music ensemble Network will perform one work written for the previous season of the Wildflower Composers Festival.
About the piece, Danity says,
“"Cassandra" is based on a character in Greek Mythology, Cassandra, who has visions of the future but is cursed with the fact that no one will ever believe her. The cello is playing her role. You can hear the struggle of her character as she lives with the curse. I am very excited about this performance and hope to see another unique expression of this story!”
The performance will take place on May 7th at 3pm at the Settlement Music School, Mary Louise Curtis branch (416 Queen St, Philadelphia, PA). Danity’s piece will be performed alongside works by composers Vivian Fung, James Lee, Ted Hearne, and Richard Wernick. Congratulations, Danity!
Want to learn about composition from the comfort of your own home?
We are offering several six-week virtual-mini courses this year, each focusing on a different topic in composition. Topics range from building your career, to film scoring, to interactive electronics, and no composition experience is required to apply! Open to non-Wildflower alums.
Admissions are rolling, and there is no fee to apply.
Our fall 2023 courses are:
Introduction to Film Scoring
with Prof. Alison Plante and Berklee Online
September 5 – October 10
Humans and Computers: Interactivity in Electronic Music
with Dr. Flannery Cunningham and SPLICE
October 12 - November 15
Each course runs weekly for 90 minutes via Zoom, and tuition is $200 per course. We're providing discounts if you are accepted to multiple courses, and also have raised significant financial aid for those who qualify for need-based aid.
Contact us with any questions: erin@wildflowercomposers.org.
March Newsletter
Meet our March featured alums: Veda Hingert-McDonald, Madeline Clara Cheng, Gabriella Cariddo, Jack Gjaja, and Cece Olszewski
Veda Hingert-McDonald (Wildflower ‘20, ‘21) is a founding member of a new artist collective.
Plein Air Sound Collective, based in Boulder, CO, is an ecosystem of composers, performers, and producers. They seek to create site-specific works that examine the relationship between sound and environment, and engage with space and each other in ways that inspire agency and trust in the collaborative process.
Plein Air Sound Collective is currently running a crowdfunding campaign to support their debut album, “Weathering Steel,” which will be recorded in May 2023 at the Tank Center for Sonic Arts. The Tank is an empty steel water cistern with amazing acoustic properties, including a natural decay reverb of up to forty seconds. The album will feature both composed and improvised music that explores the unique sonic tendencies and possibilities of the Tank.
The Collective campaign is live now through April 7th! You can learn more on their instagram and their website, where you can also find digital album downloads, art prints, original text scores, and more.
Congratulations, Veda!
Madeline Clara Cheng (Wildflower ‘20), Gabriella Cariddo (Wildflower ‘22), Jack Gjaja (Wildflower ‘20, ‘21, ‘22) and Cece Olszewski (Wildflower ‘20, ‘21) were recently commissioned to compose new choral works in collaboration with the Luna Composition Lab and the 25 for 25 Initiative at the May Festival in Cincinnati. Their works were premiered during the Community Choral Showcase at Christ Church Cathedral in Cincinnati last Sunday by a mix of local choirs.
Congratulations, Madeline, Gabriella, Jack, and Cece!
Want to learn about composition from the comfort of your own home?
We are offering several six-week virtual-mini courses this year, each focusing on a different topic in composition. Topics range from building your career, to film scoring, to interactive electronics, and no composition experience is required to apply! Open to non-Wildflower alums.
Update: We only have 10 more spots available for Beyond the Double Bar: Building a Composing Career with Melissa Dunphy, offered evenings from April 25–May 30. Apply below to reserve your spot!
Admissions are rolling, and there is no fee to apply.
Our 2023 courses are:
Beyond the Double Bar: Building a Composing Career
with Dr. Melissa Dunphy
April 25 – May 30
Introduction to Film Scoring
with Prof. Alison Plante and Berklee Online
September 5 – October 10
Humans and Computers: Interactivity in Electronic Music
with Dr. Flannery Cunningham and SPLICE
October 12 - November 15
Each course runs weekly for 90 minutes via Zoom, and tuition is $200 per course. We're providing discounts if you are accepted to multiple courses, and also have raised significant financial aid for those who qualify for need-based aid.
Contact us with any questions: erin@wildflowercomposers.org.
If you’re reading this on our new News page, thank you! On this page we will keep track of previous newsletter, news, and events.
February Newsletter
Meet our February featured alums: Grace Coberly, Hannah Sobel, and Chloe Smith
As a part of the award for having their work featured at EXTENSITY’s pop up concert series this summer in California, we are excited to share the premiere of Grace Coberly’s (Wildflower ‘20) piece Prima respira, for solo piano. The track, recorded at Skillman Music in Brooklyn, was performed by Chelsea Randall, Co-Founder/Artistic Director of EXTENSITY. Check out the performance here.
About Grace's piece:
“Prima respira” is a celebration of consonance, comfort, and contentment. I spent the fall of 2019 studying abroad in Milan, getting to know myself better as a composer, singer, and individual. Using simple, repeated arpeggiation as a backdrop, “Prima respira” combines the sounds that permeated my time in Milan: my host brother’s daily piano improvisation, my friend’s favorite shimmery chords, rain falling on the tin roof of my homestay. The piece has also been a personal reminder for me to pause and — in the words of my Italian voice teacher — “breathe first.”
Chloe Smith (Wildflower ‘21) and Hannah Sobel (Wildflower ‘21) were recently selected to have pieces performed at the upcoming Relâche New Music Ensemble Concert on March 5th. These works were selected from an open call sent out to all Wildflower alums.
Program include “Glacier” by Chloe Smith, “the bay by the ridge” and “Blue” by Hannah Sobel, and other works by friends of Relâche.
January Newsletter
Meet our January featured alum: Gabriella Cariddo
Gabriella Cariddo (Wildflower ‘22) was recently selected as the winner of the Wildflower Composers & University Choir at Penn State University Commission Competition. Gabriella will receive a $500 prize to compose a new piece for the University Choir at Penn State University, which will be premiered in fall 2023. She hopes to write “something dark and spooky — something that draws on atmosphere, likely through the exploration of harmony.”
Congratulations, Gabriella!
Announcing: Virtual Mini-Courses!
New Program Alert
Announcing… Virtual Mini-Courses!
We are thrilled to announce a brand new Wildflower program: our Virtual Mini-Courses! We are so excited to return to offering accessible virtual programming to a global audience of early-career composers.
Each six-week virtual-mini course will focus on a different topic in composition. No composition experience necessary & no need to be a Wildflower alum to apply.
Through our new virtual mini-courses, we hope to:
Provide resources and mentorship to a broader coalition of young female, transgender, nonbinary, and genderqueer composers;
Remove barriers to access, such as experiential, geographic, or financial limitations;
Take deeper dives into specific subfields of composition;
Provide year-round access to high-quality composition education, mentorship, and community.
Eligible participants are female, transgender, nonbinary, and/or genderqueer composers who are just beginning their compositional journeys or are in the early stages of their professional careers. The minimum age to participate is 13. There is no maximum age to participate, but we expect that the majority of participants will be between the ages of 13 and 25.
Admissions are rolling, and need-based financial aid (including many full scholarships!) is available. There is no fee to apply.
Our 2023 courses
Beyond the Double Bar: Building a Composing Career
with Dr. Melissa Dunphy
Tuesdays. 7–8:30pm eastern
April 25 – May 30
Your average music composition education teaches you to write music, but what's next?
This course is intended for any early-career composer who wishes to learn more about the nuts-and-bolts side of being a professional composer. Seminars will cover topics such as:
Identifying your audience
Creating a profile and public image
Networking
Legal paperwork (contracts, etc.)
How to get commissions and make a living as a composer
This overview course is perfect for anyone who wants to know more about how to build a composing career and succeed as a freelancer.
Introduction to Film Scoring
with Prof. Alison Plante & Berklee Online
Tuesdays, 7–8:30pm eastern
September 5 – October 10
Curious about the world of film scoring? Take this mini-course to learn from the best!
In this introduction to scoring for film and television, you will be invited to explore all aspects of this amazing art form, in particular the nature of the collaboration between a composer and a director/producer as the score supports their vision, world-building, and storytelling. Each workshop will combine an exploration of the aesthetics and the process of scoring, with weekly topics including:
Source, underscore, songscore, and the functions music can serve in a film/TV show
"Behind a scene" - the process of scoring a cue from concept to delivery
The filmmaking/TV production process
The composer's team and "a week in the life"
How to make a living as a composer for media: from college programs to professional career paths
Student work screenings
Students can opt to complete scoring challenges or bring their own work for peer and teacher feedback; this is an optional component of this workshop series, and no scoring background is required to participate.
Humans and Computers: Interactivity in Electronic Music
with Dr. Flannery Cunningham & SPLICE
Wednesday evenings, 7:30–9pm eastern
October 12 – November 15
Enhance your composing skills by learning about MAX/MSP and the world of interactive electronics.
In this mini-course, we’ll explore the possibilities of combining these two worlds by creating music that uses electronic sounds or techniques, but which is performed by a human performer. Weekly topics will include:
Processing live microphone inputs (pitch shifts, delays, filtering, and other techniques to affect sound)
Extracting real-time audio data about players/singers performances – what note(s) are they playing? How loudly? How fast/slow?
Mapping data to outputs, including sample playback
Creating electronic interfaces and “instruments”
Using electronic tools for timbral and other kinds of analysis—how can electronic tools help us in the compositional process?
All emerging composers are welcome, regardless of prior experience with electronics.
By the end of the course, all participants will create a Max patch that they can perform or compose with. Participants who have previous experience with Max are also welcome to bring in prior work for technical and creative feedback.
Our application is live and admissions are rolling for all of our 2023 courses, so make sure to apply soon to ensure your spot. Each course can admit a maximum of 20 students.
We hope to see you on Zoom!
Wildflower Composers
Wildflower Composers Festival 2023 Announcement
We are taking a break from offering the Wildflower Composers Festival this year and will return in 2024.
This decision was made with full support from our board and major donors, and will allow our Executive Director, Erin Busch, to finish her dissertation and graduate this spring. We will miss welcoming a new class of young composers this summer, but look forward to returning to the Temple campus in July 2024.
However…
We are excited to be launching a brand new program that will be available to early-career composers living all over the world! Stay tuned for the official program announcement next week.
Best wishes for a happy and healthy year.
Wildflower Composers
December Newsletter
Meet our December featured alums: Sarah Kitten and Chloe Smith
Sarah Kitten (Wildflower ‘18) recently defended her undergraduate thesis for the Univeristy of Oregon on adaptive music, including an adaptive, interactive composition project. She created a prototype interface for her adaptive music piece, ADAPTASIA.
Check out information on the awesome project here. Congrats, Sarah!
Chloe Smith (Wildflower ‘21), recently featured in our Fifth Anniversary Concert, has two premieres coming up.
Splinter Reeds, a reed quintet, will premiere her composition Olita at the Boston Conservatory on December 3rd. Additionally, her composition glacier, for flute and piano, will be premiered by Aaron Dore and Mauricio Campos Gonzales on December 7th, also at the Boston Conservatory.
Congratulations, Sarah and Chloe!
However you may celebrate this time of year,
we wish you a happy and healthy holiday season.
Wildflower Composers
Tammy Huynh announced as the 2023 Wildflower / AAI Resident Composer and Teaching Artist
Tammy Hunyh announced as the 2023 Wildflower / AAI Resident Composer and Teaching Artist
Wildflower Composers and the Asian Arts Initiative are pleased to announce that Tammy Huynh will serve as our Resident Composer and Teaching Artist for the spring 2023 season!
From February through June, Tammy will work with middle school students who are currently enrolled in AAI's Youth Arts Workshop to help them create their own compositions for optional public performance. During this time, Tammy will also write a new composition that relates to AAI's 2023 theme of "The Body", which will be premiered at the conclusion of the residency period.
Tammy will receive a $1,500 teaching stipend and $1,500 commission award, totaling $3,000 for the position.
Congratulations, Tammy!
Tammy Huynh, a.k.a. mitamu, is a vocalist, composer, and improviser based in New York City. She holds the importance of storytelling as paramount and places experimentation at the heart of her music. She is interested in creating works that explore collective storytelling through improvisation, the relationship between poetry and music, and genre fluidity between jazz, chamber music, and pop. In 2021, she released her debut album "sunflower in the east" which received attention from several publications including WXPN and Bandcamp. In 2022, mitamu won 1st place at the Beta Hi-Fi Emerging Artist Festival Competition. Huynh is an alumna of several programs including Diamond Research Scholars Program and Banff International Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music. She is currently faculty at the Manhattan School of Music and fellow at the bespoken mentorship program.
This opportunity is generously sponsored by the New Music USA Organizational Development Fund (awarded to Wildflower Composers for the 22/23 season) and by Asian Arts Initiative.
We would also like to congratulate our runner up, Migiwa Miyajima.
A letter from alum Lux Onigman (Wildflower '20)
A Giving Tuesday letter from alum Lux Onigman (Wildflower ‘20)
Dear supporter,
My name is Lux Ezra Onigman, and I'm a young non-binary composer.
I couldn't be more grateful to Wildflower Composers for their invaluable contribution to my career, and I'm writing to ask you to consider making a gift to Wildflower this Giving Tuesday. With your support, they can keep giving these opportunities to more young composers like me - and we can keep making music!
When I signed up for the Wildflower Composers program online in 2020, I had no idea that it would slingshot my newly developed interest to my dream career. Those two weeks of classes gave me insights from music educators of all different genres and a wonderful community of gender-marginalized young composers.
Furthermore, the resources and opportunities that Wildflower continues to share with me have helped me attend even more programs and classes, apply to contests, and even receive my first commission!
The UUCWC Crossing Chorale premiered Lux’s commissioned work “A Welcome Thought” this past July. Lux was the first winner of this new commission opportunity designed for Wildflower alums, and received a $400 prize and recorded premiere.
Thanks to Wildflower, I have been able to hear the premiere of my first composition, attend a free film scoring workshop, and receive top awards in several composition contests. With the help of the professional recording of my composition from Wildflower, I have been accepted into additional composing programs where I'll have even more chances to write and share my music. Currently, I'm a first-year taking composition classes at Smith College, and I'm certain now that I want to major in music and make composing my career.
Wildflower has seriously helped me in every way to find my passion and follow it, and I can't thank them enough. Please consider making a gift so that other composers like me can receive these critical opportunities, resources, and support.
Support Wildflower with a tax-deductible donation
Best wishes this holiday season,
Lux Ezra Onigman (they/them)
Wildflower ‘20, Smith College ‘26
P.S. My choral composition “Invictus” was recently premiered and recorded by the Harmonium Choral Society Chamber Singers as part of the 2021 NJHS Composition Competition. Take a listen here!
November Newsletter
We celebrated our fifth anniversary!
Our Fifth Anniversary Concert with Quartet Iris on October 16th was a huge success! Congratulations to our four commissioned composers, and a big thank you to everyone who came out to show their support. We are so appreciative of our growing community.
Check out some photo highlights from the event below!
Thank you to everyone who made this concert possible, including Quartet Iris (Julia Li, Christine Lim, Che-Hung Chen, Yumi Kendall), support from the Musical Fund Society and the New Music USA Organizational Development Fund, our administrative assistant Kira Mahoney, Board President Melissa Dunphy and the entire Board of Directors, recording engineer Sean Bailey, photographer Alexey Alexandrov of Rec.Today, and our commissioned composers, Hannah Sobel, Emily Liushen, Cece Olszewski, and Chloe Smith. Thanks also to Boyer College of Music and Dance, Dr. Cynthia Folio, and Dr. Julia Alford for critical support in our early seasons.
October Newsletter
Join us on October 16th for our Fifth Anniversary Concert!
Earlier this year, we commissioned four Wildflower alums – Cece Olszewski (‘20, ‘21), Hannah Sobel (‘21), Emily Liushen (‘18), and Chloe Smith (‘21) – to compose new string quartets for Philadelphia-based Quartet Iris, which will be premiered at our Fifth Anniversary Concert on October 16th.
Also on the program are pieces by longtime faculty member inti figgis-vizueta, founder Erin Busch, and past guest composer and current Philadelphia Orchestra Composer-In-Residence Gabriela Lena Frank.
Fifth Anniversary Concert
Sunday, October 16th at 3pm
Ethical Society of Philadelphia
Sliding scale: $10–25
We are thrilled to collaborate with Quartet Iris for this special event!
Julia Li / Christine Lim, violins
Che-Hung Chen, viola
Yumi Kendall, cello
From Quartet Iris:
“We are thrilled to be adding to the string quartet canon by participating in commissioning and performing these new works. Wildflower Composers is doing important work by providing support, professional opportunities, and community to young women and genderqueer composers. We hope to see you at our October 16 concert! Please spread the word.”
Quartet Iris, all of whose members won their positions in the Philadelphia Orchestra while still in music conservatory, first formed in the summer of 2019. Inspired by their orchestra’s commitment to education, the Quartet offered to usher in the 2019 school year by performing at the School District of Philadelphia's opening celebration event. Following that initial appearance, they have since performed at many venues across the Philadelphia area. During 2020, at the start of the pandemic, Quartet Iris took to the digital stage. These digitally produced, socially distanced recordings were featured by the Philadelphia Orchestra and “Live from Carnegie Hall”. As part of an ongoing effort to strive for diversity in classical music, they performed in a special collaboration with the Historic Belmont Mansion and local Philadelphia artists. In 2021, Quartet Iris made its first in person, public appearance at Lenape’s Gala concert, and have since performed at Philadelphia’s Athenaeum, Foulkeways and Spring House Estates in Gwynedd, Trinity Episcopal Church in Solebury, Swarthmore’s Park Avenue Community Center, and The Hill at Whitemarsh.
A bit about our commissioned composers and their new pieces…
Cece Olszewski (‘20, ‘21)
My piece, “in our garden”, consists of two contrasting sections inspired by a set of lyrics from Phoebe Bridgers’ “Garden Song”:
“Everything is growing in our garden / You don’t have to know that it’s haunted.”
I am so excited to be a part of this concert alongside these incredible musicians!
Hannah Sobel (‘21)
I am so honored to have my new quartet, "Your Melodies" performed by Quartet Iris for the Wildflower Composers Five Year Anniversary Concert. "Your Melodies" is based on Reuben Gelley Newman's poem of the same title about discovering and quickly coming to love a new artist. This poem came to mind when I was thinking about Wildflower Composers because of all the new melodies I was surrounded by when I was at the festival in 2021. My piece is meant to emulate the feeling of being overwhelmed and awestruck by new and exciting music.
Emily Liushen (‘18)
I dream that every human may care for a hen and a garden. The human protects the hen from predators, provides her a yard in which to roam and to BE AS LOUD AS SHE WANTS, and feeds her fresh scraps from their garden. In return the hen gives her eggs to the human, who cooks and eats them with the utmost respect and humility for her labor. How sweet the yolks taste because it was she who made them, each as orange and rich as the sun.
Chloe Smith (‘21)
the sun doesn’t always shine was inspired by my first year in conservatory. Sometimes we have moments, dark days, times when it feels like you’re just getting by and just getting through (hello, finals week!). The piece gently glides from brighter to darker harmonies to take you through the metaphorical journey of the bright sun gradually being engulfed by those clouds and even creating a feeling of gloom.
This event is generously sponsored by the Musical Fund Society and the New Music USA Organizational Development Fund.
Wildflower Composers offers several other resources and opportunities for alumni and students. We are thrilled to partner with other local organizations to offer opportunities beyond our summer program, where we strive to develop opportunities that are thoughtfully designed and catalytic in their impact. Check out all of our resources here.
Stay tuned for more updates from Wildflower about new programming and collaborations!
September Newsletter
Celebrating our fifth anniversary with four commissions by Wildflower alums
We can’t believe that we are celebrating our fifth year! In honor of this anniversary, we commissioned four Wildflower alums – Cece Olszewski (‘20, ‘21), Hannah Sobel (‘21), Emily Liushen (‘18), and Chloe Smith (‘21) – to compose new string quartets for Philadelphia-based Quartet Iris. These four young composers have created very diverse and inventive pieces, and we can’t wait to share them with you at our fifth anniversary concert this October 16th at the Ethical Society.
Also on the program are pieces by longtime faculty member inti figgis-vizueta, founder Erin Busch, and past guest composer and current Philadelphia Orchestra Composer-In-Residence Gabriela Lena Frank.
Fifth Anniversary Concert
Sunday, October 16th at 3pm
Ethical Society of Philadelphia
Sliding scale: $10–25
Please join us for this special event!
A bit about our commissioned composers and their new pieces…
Cece Olszewski (‘20, ‘21)
My piece, “in our garden”, consists of two contrasting sections inspired by a set of lyrics from Phoebe Bridgers’ “Garden Song”:
“Everything is growing in our garden / You don’t have to know that it’s haunted.”
I am so excited to be a part of this concert alongside these incredible musicians!
Hannah Sobel (‘21)
I am so honored to have my new quartet, "Your Melodies" performed by Quartet Iris for the Wildflower Composers Five Year Anniversary Concert. "Your Melodies" is based on Reuben Gelley Newman's poem of the same title about discovering and quickly coming to love a new artist. This poem came to mind when I was thinking about Wildflower Composers because of all the new melodies I was surrounded by when I was at the festival in 2021. My piece is meant to emulate the feeling of being overwhelmed and awestruck by new and exciting music.
Emily Liushen (‘18)
I dream that every human may care for a hen and a garden. The human protects the hen from predators, provides her a yard in which to roam and to BE AS LOUD AS SHE WANTS, and feeds her fresh scraps from their garden. In return the hen gives her eggs to the human, who cooks and eats them with the utmost respect and humility for her labor. How sweet the yolks taste because it was she who made them, each as orange and rich as the sun.
Chloe Smith (‘21)
the sun doesn’t always shine was inspired by my first year in conservatory. Sometimes we have moments, dark days, times when it feels like you’re just getting by and just getting through (hello, finals week!). The piece gently glides from brighter to darker harmonies to take you through the metaphorical journey of the bright sun gradually being engulfed by those clouds and even creating a feeling of gloom.
This event is generously sponsored by the Musical Fund Society and the New Music USA Organizational Development Fund.
Wildflower Composers offers several other resources and opportunities for alumni and students. We are thrilled to partner with other local organizations to offer opportunities beyond our summer program, where we strive to develop opportunities that are thoughtfully designed and catalytic in their impact. Check out all of our resources on our website here.
Stay tuned for more updates from Wildflower about new programming and collaborations!
August Newsletter
Film Scoring Observation
Earlier this month, Wildflower Composers alums met with Philly-based film composer, Will Blair of Blair Brothers Studios. Our composers were able to observe the film scoring process up close by taking a look at some of Will’s scores, sharing their own scores and ideas, and discussing amongst the group.
Hear what a few of our alums had to say about this experience:
Anagha Kapsi (‘21) said,
“I had a wonderful time at the film scoring observation with Will Blair! It was fascinating to see the studio and how all the music technology works. It felt like we were getting the chance to see the behind-the-scenes of film scoring. Mr. Blair was very informative and passionate about his craft. We also got to present some of our film-scoring and receive his feedback. It was a day full of new experiences. After the observation, I was definitely left more inspired and informed about the methods and fundamentals of film scoring. I look forward to future observation sessions like this!”
Sophia Schiffer (‘19, ‘20) said,
I am so grateful that I got to experience a behind the scenes taste of what it is like to work in film scoring! Film and TV is a musical direction I have always strongly considered, and taking a close look at Will Blair's work, getting his feedback on one of my short scores, and having deep conversations with other Wildflower participants was a truly inspiring and empowering experience. Thank you so much Erin and Will!
Thank you, Blair Brothers Studios! We had a great time, and learned so much.
2022 Festival in Review
Check out some highlights from our 2022 festival!
After another full week of seminars, workshops, and rehearsals, the 2022 Wildflower Composers Festival concluded on July 22nd with a concert of world premieres by our young composers. We had an amazing two weeks creating music, relationships, and memories together. Thank you to all of our faculty, staff, performers, donors, students, and guests who made this summer possible.
Missed our festival concert? View it below!
Here are a few highlights from our second week:
Photo credits to Alexey Alexandrov @rec.today on Instagram
Thank you so much to all of our faculty, staff, volunteers, performers, and students for helping to create this special time together.
Stay tuned for more updates from Wildflower about new programming and collaborations! Have a great rest of your summer, and be well.
Best,
Erin & the Wildflower team
Concert this Friday!
Festival Concert this Friday, July 22nd
Since the start of the festival, our students have been hard at work composing a piece to be premiered by performers Jessica Beebe (soprano), Emmalie Tello (clarinet), Andrew Yee (cello), and Hanchien Lee (piano). We are thrilled to present these compositions at our free Festival Concert this Friday, July 22nd!
We would love to have a full audience to demonstrate the widespread community support for these young composers. We hope to see you there!
2022 Festival Concert
Friday, July 22 at 3pm
Temple University’s Rock Hall, 1715 N. Broad St.
This performance will also be live-streamed and archived on our YouTube page.
RSVP to watch the livestream here
Check out some shots of our composers hard at work on their pieces!
Follow us on instagram @wildflowercomposers to get daily updates about our 2022 festival.