Music Meets Drama

  Good news to share.   The Gena Branscombe Project will be represented at the National Opera Association conference in Boston, MA, January 6-10, 2026.   Emily Clements, the Project’s 2024 Composer scholarship winner and her co-librettist, Bonita Bunt, will discuss their original opera-in-progress, “Letters to Lily”, for the New Works Expo. Dan Ryan and I will participate in the Poster Session displaying the history of The Gena Branscombe Project that includes our mission of awarding scholarships to up-and-coming composers, conductors and arts administrators, sponsoring Bringing Back Branscombe concerts, publishing the composer’s nearly forgotten music and bringing awareness of her oratorio, “Pilgrims of Destiny” as well as her orchestral works.     We look forward to being at the conference and meeting all the attendees.   #BringingBackBranscombe

  Over several months of letters in 1922 were discussions between Miss Branscombe and Mr. Austin at the Arthur P. Schmidt Company of Boston.  The subject matter:  a set of songs Gena Branscombe wrote for her daughters.   She desperately wanted the “Un-improving Songs for Enthusiastic Children and One for Sleepy Time” to be published for the Christmas season sheet music market.  Proofs of the songs were mailed between Gena and Mr. Austin.  With the Christmas season deadline fast approaching, there was a Post Office delay in the corrected proofs being delivered in a timely fashion.  Anxiety haunted the composer. Yet, what came as a surprise in these letters was the discussion of who would create the sheet music cover art work.  When sheet music was the rage, the covers for the music were colorful and eye-catching.  A talented designer was a must! Gena’s friend, Mrs. Elise Nevins Morgan of Methuen, Massachusetts, recommended her artist frien...

  For nearly two years the law firm Foster Garvey has worked with The Gena Branscombe Project.   A team of lawyers guided us through the process of becoming a 501(c)(3), non-profit, filing all the necessary paperwork with the State of New York, advising us on all the annual financial forms to be filed, copyright law and much more.   Their team was professional, encouraging, patient and generous with their time. All the work I listed above was done pro-bono.  We were aware that every meeting they held with us could have been billing hours for the lawyers.  Yet, they showed their commitment and dedication to supporting us.   Our initial connection with Foster Garvey came through one of my neighbors who approached partner Hilary Hughes asking if she would be interested in helping us.   A meeting was set up to discuss the needs of The Gena Branscombe Project.  Within days we met the lawyers who became our team!   We knew we had t...