The White Chapel - Picton, Ontario

 

Will wonders never cease finding Gena Branscombe items?  This past week in Picton, Ontario, Gena’s hometown, Debra Marshall of the Picton United Church and Liz Driver, President of the Architectural Conservancy Ontario Picton Branch, were touring the White Chapel.  The Chapel dates from 1809 and was the original Methodist Church building.

 

Both Liz and Debra are helping and supporting The Gena Branscombe Project’s concert, “From Picton to the World: Bringing Home the Music of Gena Branscombe.”  What great cheerleaders they are!

Back to the story!  Debra and Liz notice that a railing in the White Chapel has names carved or etched onto it.  Then, to their surprise, they look down and whose name appears etched on the railing?  None other than Gena Branscombe and Ted Hopkins dated 1894.  Gena was 13 years old.  The identity of Ted Hopkins remains unknown.   You have to look closely at the picture to make out her name.  

Though we don’t know a great deal about Gena’s younger personality, one can assume by having carved her name onto the railing…..well, she was a teenager with a mission of being remembered in the White Chapel!  Now here we are 132 years later learning she was in the White Chapel then in August her music returns to Picton to carve a memory in the hearts and souls of her hometown!

 

The Gena Branscombe Project 2026 Scholarships

The Gena Branscombe Project 2026 Scholarships

We are proud to announce that we are now accepting applications for our 2026 scholarships.  

We encourage up-and-coming Arts Administrators, Conductors and Composers to apply.  Miss Branscombe believed in the power of education, the mentoring of those working towards a degree and those who are beginning their journey into the professional world.  The Gena Branscombe Project carries forth that mission.

Apply now.  The deadline for applications is May 8, 2026.

Go to our website and begin applying:

www.thegenabranscombeproject.com

 

Women's Philharmonic Advocacy Blog Posting

With thanks for Dr. Lianne Curtis of the Women's Philharmonic Advocacy for her blog posting about our upcoming concert, Winds of Change, Songs of Time -  The Musical Legacy of the National League of American Pen Women.  Click the link below:





https://wophil.org/feb-28-pen-women-composers-celebrated/

From Picton to the World - Bringing Home the Music of Gena Branscombe

With many thanks to Margaret Haylock for authoring this article about the Gena Branscombe concert in Picton, Ontario on August 15, 2026. To say the least, The Gena Branscombe Project is thrilled to bring her music home! If you are in the area, please plan on attending.

https://www.intelligencer.ca/news/local-news/picton-to-the-world-concert-celebrating-music-of-gena-branscombe

 

#bringingbackbranscombe

#genabranscombe

#womancomposer

#CanadianComposer

#pictonontario

#BringingBranscombeHome

#Canadianmusic

#MargaretHaylock

#TheGenaBranscombeProject

#FromPictontotheWorld

#OurCanadaFromSeatoSea

 

Gena Branscombe's Violin Sonata

One Eye Publications has today announced the publication of Gena Branscombe's Violin Sonata. Add this tour-de-force sonata to your repertoire and recitals.

www.oneeyepublications.com

#BringingBackBranscombe

#OneEyePublications

#ViolinSonata

#GenaBranscombe

#WomanComposer

Three Art Song Volumes

 One Eye Publications has recently published three volumes of Gena Branscombe's art songs.  Rich  harmonies and beautiful melodies make these songs a perfect addition to a recital.  Click on the link to the website and place your order. 

 

#BringingBackBranscombe

#OneEyePublications

#ArtSongs

#GenaBranscombe

#WomanComposer

#VoiceRecitalrepertoire

New Work Expo - National Opera Association - Boston, January 2026

 National Opera Association’s 2026 conference in Boston included a New Work Expo.

Exhibiting their operas, composers and librettists with posters, business cards and excerpts shared with attendees the personal story behind their operas whether from the historical viewpoint, to multisensory operas, humor, women’s issues and current political commentary. The creativity and passion for their operas was obvious. Now, as opera lovers we must help promote these musical works.

Here are a few of the presentations:

The Gena Branscombe Project’s Composer scholarship winner, Emily Clements and her librettist Bonita Blunt showcased their opera, “Letters to Lily.”

Iranian composer, Niloufar Nourbakhsh and librettist Lisa Flanagan have created operas about the oppression of women in Iran.

Composer Stephen Eddins comic opera, “Why I Live at the P.O.” based upon a Eudora Welty story has had several productions. I shared with Stephen that my father had been a Postal Inspector.

And, how about an opera about peanut butter and marshmellow fluff? Spicer Carr, composer and Marianna Mott Newirth, librettist, have created an opera about family, food and the essential to everyone’s life…..peanut butter.

Multisensory operas for audiences whether about wine or specters take people on a full life experience. Composer Theo Popov and his librettists have created something for everyone….and if you’re a wine lover…..need I say anything else?

Congratulations to all of the composer/librettist teams.

#TheGenaBranscombeProject

#NationalOperaAssociation

#NewWorkExpo

#EmilyClements

#BonitaBlunt

#letterstoLily

#NiloufarNourbakhsh

#liaFlanagan

#WhyILiveattheP.O.

#StephenEddins

#Fluffernutter

#SpicerCarr

#MariannaMottNewirth

#MultisensoryOpera

#TheoPopov

#EllenLewis

#Peanutbutter

#BringingBackBranscombe

#GivingBackBranscombe