Nelson Ojeda Valdez

 

There in front of me was a Facebook ad  - “Women of Romanticism” - concert to be held at the New York Society for Ethical Culture on March 12, 2022.  

 Hmmmm, that caught my interest, sounded interesting and I should probably attend.  I purchased a ticket not knowing any of the performers yet the composers Fannie Mendelssohn Hensel, Cecile Chaminade and others were familiar to me. 

As I sat through the concert all I could think was, “Meeting these talented and gifted performers is going to happen.  We will, some day in the future, collaborate on a Gena concert.”  That was just the beginning of what now is three years of friendship and concertizing.  

After the concert I approached soprano Stefanie Izzo introducing myself as an authority on Gena Branscombe.  Stefanie is an authority on women composers….. a lot of women composers, yet she had not heard of Gena.  We agreed to be in touch to discuss Gena songs for her to perform.

 

Then I approached the organizer of the concert, pianist Nelson Ojeda Valdes.  The first thing out of my mouth, “We need to have coffee.”  Then, I handed him my card and introduced myself.  We agreed to be in contact.

Little did I know Nelson is a coffee-aholic!  My offer of having coffee definitely interested him!  Weeks later we did meet for coffee.  Our conversation never let up because neither of us is shy! 

 Over the course of that first coffee meeting, I shared the Gena Project development and our wish to begin offering concerts.  Listening carefully, Nelson proceeded to guide me through the process of creating programs, how to approach venues, communication skills for all of this, then performers and fees. 

 To say the very least, I was and continue to be in awe of Nelson Ojeda Valdez, who is a true creative music entrepreneur!  Here is a person who knows what concerts he has created and will be performing nearly two years in advance.  Each program is diverse from the previous program.  Do you know anyone who would arrange for five pianists to join him for a performance of Steve Reich’s piece, “Six Pianos?”

It’s not the performance of that incredibly difficult piece, it’s knowing five other pianists who are willing to take on that piece, scheduling rehearsals where there must be SIX pianos in one room and once you begin playing making sure everyone is on the same measure at the same time.  One of his next concerts was all Faure music, a Christmas season concert to play the piano four hands version of the Nutcracker Ballet Suite and on and on.  Only Nelson! 

With thanks to Nelson, The Gena Branscombe Project presented its “Bringing Back Branscombe to the Upper West Side” concert at the New York Society for Ethical Culture.  His guidance for this concert was invaluable.  His performing Gena’s music with great sensitivity was amazing whether he was a collaborator with an instrumentalist or playing a solo piece!

 We meet for coffee every once-in-a- while, we laugh quite a lot, share our upcoming events or travels and enjoy one another’s company.  Not only is Nelson a great concertizer and organizer, he also teaches private piano lessons, is a church organist and on occasion does a second or third Sunday service.  His daily schedule is packed with his own practicing, performing, teaching and creating new concerts knowing all the details that must be handled. 

 Recently, Nelson sent me a program from his church.  Each Sunday in March, Women’s History Month, he played a piece by a woman composer.  Included were Gena Branscombe, Fannie Mendelssohn Hensel, Wanda Landowska, Amy Beach and Florence Price!  Not only did he play their music, he also wrote short bios of each composer that gave the congregation insights into each woman’s music and life!   

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Nelson is a force of nature, driven in the most positive way to create music experiences for one and all.  He’s a great mentor and I thank him as often as possible for his guidance and ideas.  I remind him, “You’re the best!”  And, he is. 

 Onward to more Gena concerts!  Thanks Nelson for being my friend and mentor.

#BringingBackBranscombe

Extended deadline for Composers and Arts Admin

 

ATTENTION - Up-and-coming COMPOSERS and ARTS ADMINISTRATORS -

The Gena Branscombe Project has extended its deadline for your scholarship applications. THE NEW DEADLINE IS MAY 30, 2025.

Tell your friends, students and colleagues. Go to our website, read about Miss Branscombe, her music, career and life. Read about our past winners and this year's judges.

Composers and Arts Administrators APPLY NOW and beat the new deadline of May 30, 2025.

#BringingBackBranscombe
#TheGenaBranscombeProject
#MusicScholarships
#Artsadminscholarships
#Composerscholarships
#Extendeddeadline

Coffee with TGBP Scholarship Winners

 

For the past five years The Gena Branscombe Project has awarded an annual scholarship to up-and-coming Arts Administrators, Conductors and Composers.  It has been an honor for us to support the winners who are completing their formal education, who need help progressing into their professional careers or who need tools of the industry to enhance their work.

 

The Project has made it our mission to stay in touch with our winners.  We gather information about their concerts, compositions and activities to update on Facebook and Instagram pages.  All of our winners are doing great things.

 

Over the past two weeks I have had the pleasure of meeting three of our winners here in New York City.  What a joy to be with them in person, hearing their stories, their hopes and accomplishments, then, talking about life in general.

 

First, I met our 2024 composer winner, Emily Clements, for coffee and a nice long chat.  Several days later I attended a performance of a scene from her opera “Letters to Lily” presented by the Brooklyn based Off-Brand Opera.  Emily has completed Act I of her opera and is working to complete Act II. 

 

Second, I attended the first workshop reading of the musical “Sharp” composed by our 2022 composer winner, Ally Bellhaven with book by Jake Nielsen. 

Their musical was presented at New York University as part of their Master’s degree program.  Wonderful singer/actors gave life to this musical reading.

 

Third, Dan Ryan and I had brunch with our 2020 conductor winner, Damali Willingham.  We have worked with Damali since she was an undergraduate at Berklee College of Music where this wonderful conductor arranged Gena Branscombe’s orchestral piece “Festival Prelude/March” for wind ensemble, then conducted a performance of it.  We had a great time catching up on our lives and careers. 

 To have met in person with three of our 15 winners was a treat.  We have met in person with a few other winners.  At some time in the future we look forward to meeting all of these incredibly talented recipients of our scholarships. 

We will be announcing our 2025 scholarship winners in the next few months.  Stay tuned!

#BringingBackBranscombe

 

It's OFFICIAL!

 The Gena Branscombe Project is officially a 501(c)(3) non-profit.  The hard work and dedication put forth by the Board of Directors of the Project is admirable.  We breathe a sigh of relief that this phase of our work is complete.  Onward we move to rewarding scholarships, sponsoring #BringingBackBranscombe concerts and much more.  Our thanks to Foster Garvey PC for their support and guidance.  

#BringingBackBranscombe