Top row (L to R): Moni (Jasmine) Guo, Brittany J. Green, and Karena Ingram. Bottom row (L to R): Chelsea Komschlies, Marina López, and Meilina Tsui.
Building on the impact of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program’s current 30-orchestra consortium that provides opportunities for women composers, the League of American Orchestras, in partnership with American Composers Orchestra, has announced the formation of a second consortium, to take place from 2024 to 2026. As in the original consortium, six women composers—Brittany J. Green, Moni (Jasmine) Guo, Karena Ingram, Chelsea Komschlies, Marina López, and Meilina Tsui for this round—will receive commissions and a consortium of 30 U.S. orchestras (five orchestras paired with each composer) will perform the works. Six lead orchestras will premiere the commissioned works in the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons: 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 for repeat performances in 2024 through 2026. 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, taking place in Houston, June 6-8, 2024.
The Virginia B. Toulmin Orchestral Commissions Program is linked to EarShot, an initiative of American Composers Orchestra in collaboration with the American Composers Forum, the League of American Orchestras, and New Music USA. The six commission recipients were selected from women and non-binary composers who have participated in EarShot reading sessions. Learn more at https://americanorchestras.org/learn/artistic-programs/women-composers-readings-and-commissions-program/.
