Listen: Works By Women
Promoting the
Standard of an
Inclusive Repertoire
The Merian Ensemble: Christina Smith, Emily Brebach, Elisabeth Remy Johnson, Marci Gurnow, and Jessica Oudin (L to R).
Photo by CatMax Photography
Supporting Women in Classical Music
In 2018, five women of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra came together to address the gender imbalance in classical standard repertoire. Through our “Listen: Works by Women” initiatives, the Merian Ensemble performs the abundant repertoire of music composed by women and commissions a new work each year. In addition to traditional concerts, we give outreach performances for school-age children and presentations at libraries and public spaces throughout Atlanta and beyond. Our debut album recording our commissions to-date will be released by PARMA Records in late summer 2024.
Research shows that of 111 major orchestras across 31 countries, only 7.7% of works played were written by women.
With our name, the Merian Ensemble honors the genius of Maria Sybilla Merian (1647-1717), a brilliant scientist and artist who created intricately beautiful drawings in order to examine and illuminate the tiniest details of metamorphosis. Her work, which preceded that of Linnaeus and Darwin, exhibits the same qualities of intellectual rigor and discovery, but enjoyed a fraction of the contemporary acclaim or celebrated legacy. Her story fuels our passion for bringing obscured compositions to light, and our determination to celebrate the women composing today.
Maria Sybilla Merian
(1647-1717)
Our Repertoire
Debuts august 2nd, 2024
Album Release
The Merian Ensemble welcomes its debut recording, The Book of Spells, out from Navona Records on August 2, 2024. Comprised entirely of world premiere recordings, featuring works by Clarice Assad, Nicole Chamberlain, Jennifer Higdon, Mary Kouyoumdjian, Anne Leilehua Lanzilotti, Soon Hee Newbold, Kimberly R. Osberg, and Lynne Plowman, each but one commissioned by the Merian Ensemble, The Book of Spells documents our work to elevate and amplify women’s voices in classical music.
Listen:
Works by Women 2019
Clara Schumann: Three Romances
Katherine Hoover: My Days Have Been So Wondrously Free
Augusta Read Thomas: Hummingbird Romance
Mary Kouyoumdjian: A Boy and a Makeshift Toy
Alyssa Morris: Chrysalis
Listen:
Works by Women 2021
“American Music for Today and Tomorrow”
Clarice Assad: The Book of Spells *
Mary Kouyoumdjian: A Boy and a Makeshift Toy
Reena Esmail: Jhula Jhule
Polina Nazaykinskaya: Lamentation of the Bird
Kimberly Osberg: Just Another Climb*
*Merian commission, world premiere
Listen:
Works by Women 2022
“Journeys Home”
Rebecca Clarke: Prelude, Allegro, and Pastorale
Mel Bonis: Scènes de la Forêt
Nicole Chamberlain: Atalanta*
Allison Loggins-Hull: Homeland
Jessie Montgomery: Peace
Grace Williams: Can Ramantus
Julia Gomelskaya: the hint only
Lynne Plowman: Small World *
*Merian commission, world premiere
Listen:
Works by Women 2023
“Transformations”
Lawren Brianna Ware: Recollection and Anticipation
Yuko Uébayashi: Sonata “Flore”
Florence Price: Deserted Garden
Lili Boulanger: Reflets
Lynne Plowman: floating, turning, spinning
Leilehua Lanzilotti: meridian *
Jennifer Higdon: The Sound of Light *
*Merian commission, world premiere
Listen:
Works by Women 2024
“Myth and Nature”
Clarice Assad: The Book of Spells
Amy Beach: Berceuse
Ruth Gipps: Sea-shore Suite
Danielle Eva Schwob: Breathing Underwater
Jennifer Higdon: The Sound of Light
Leilehua Lanzilotti: meridian
Soon Hee Newbold: Alis Volat Propriis *
*Merian commission, world premiere
Our Events
Our Composers
The Merian Ensemble
Commissions
2019
CLARICE ASSAD
view website
2020
KIMBERLY OSBERG
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2021
NICOLE CHAMBERLAIN
view website
2021
LYNNE PLOWMAN
view website
2022
LEILEHUA LANZILOTTI
view website
2023
JENNIFER HIGDON
view website
Projected 2023
SOON HEE NEWBOLD
view website
Projected 2024
LAURA ELISE SCHWENDINGER
view website
Projected 2025
ELIZABETH YOUNAN
view website
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The Merian Ensemble is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your contributions are tax-deductible and allow us to commission female composers and perform their amazing works for audiences across the nation. As a musician-run ensemble, we rely solely on donations and sponsors.
Venmo handle: @TheMerianEnsemble
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