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

National Opera Association - Boston, MA January 2026

 

National Opera Conference – Boston, MA   Fairmont Copley Plaza   -   January 7^th – 10^th, 2026

 

The Gena Branscombe Project was present for the National Opera Association conference at the Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston.  What a great experience it was for us.

This conference offered presentations on grant writing, university opera directors enlightening us on their journey of presenting opera scenes and full operas with limited budget, vocal pedagogy and how to produce and encourage opera performances for children.  The evenings were filled with college opera scene concerts, a vocal competition, a master class with Peter Sellars and a concert honoring mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves.  These were jam packed days and evenings.  Not only was this an educational experience, networking opportunity and we made new friends whose interests were the world of singing opera!  How great is that!

With heartfelt thanks to my friend and colleague, Dan Ryan, who with his artistic talents created our Gena Branscombe Project poster for the Poster Presentation session on Friday, January 9^th.  Dan highlighted our accomplishments, ongoing projects, Gena’s place in music history and her music…..the beautiful dramatic oratorio, Pilgrims of Destiny, her art songs and more.  As conference attendees wandered past our table, they stopped to converse, ask questions then take one of our cards saying they would be in touch with us.  And, yes, we have heard from several people already!

 Many of the posters for this session were intriguing.  As with our poster, they showcased people’s musical interests, passion projects and more.  Next blog post will be pictures of those posters.

In the meantime, here are pictures from our Poster Session presentation. 

#BringingBackBranscombe

#GivingBackBranscombe

 

The Year 2025 Leads to Performances in 2026!

 

The fast paced year of 2025 was for The Gena Branscombe Project one that opened the flood gates of creativity.  Once our non-profit status 501 (c)(3) was granted in late December 2024, we began planning future concerts, networking with artists to perform Gena Branscombe's music, fund raising for our scholarships and awarding our yearly scholarships to three talented musicians. 

Our 2025-2026 concert schedule:

One highlight for the year, was the publication of three volumes of Gena Branscombe’s piano music by One Eye Publications of Whitby, Ontario. These volumes are available for sale on  One Eye Publications website.  That highlight continues in 2026 with the publication of song volumes, French Horn pieces and the violin sonata.  Yes, we have had a busy, rewarding year. 

A dream came true when we scheduled an August 15, 2026 concert in Gena Branscombe’s hometown of Picton, Ontario.  The music performed on that concert will be her tribute to her beloved country whether through the Canadian poet’s whose words she set, works she composed while living in Picton or portions of her unfinished opera, “Bells of Circumstance” which honors the first French settlers of Canada. 

In February and March 2026 we present "Winds of Change, Songs of Time," a concert honoring the first women composers to be invited to join the National League of American Pen Women.  These composers were the leading women composers of the era, a responsibility they took seriously presenting concerts in Washington, DC and throughout the country.  If you are in New York City or Boston, please join us.  

The Gena Branscombe Project will exhibit a poster presentation of our work for the National Opera Association conference in Boston, MA.  Dan Ryan and I will be there promoting our mission, inviting people to purchase and perform Gena Branscombe's music and encouraging people to sponsor a concert or presentation by us at their organization. 

 Houghton University invited me to be part of a Bringing Back  Branscombe & Friends week.  There will be talks about Gena, a concert and master classes.  What a joy it  has been to work with my friend, Dr. Sharon Johnson, creating this week which is proving to be a great musical experience in late March.  

As you see from the flyers I’ve included, all the concerts we have in the year 2026 spread the historical beauty of a woman composer’s music who lived over 100 years.  She had been lost in time and circumstances, yet, we are bringing her back into the 21^st century.

It was a pleasure to be part of, work alongside the strong, committed and dedicated Gena Branscombe Project Board members – Dan Ryan, Regan Russell and Jessica Bloch-Moisand.  Thank you to these wonderful people.

And, plans for 2027 are in the works!

#BringingBackBranscombe

#GivingBackBranscombe