The Busy Month of March – including the last day of February – Part II

 

 This “incognito – wearing shades” picture was taken in the basement of the Library of Congress in 2007.  Dr. Sharon Johnson, Nancy Davis (piano duo performers) and I, along with my collaborator Martin Hennessy, had moments earlier performed on the stage at the Library.  What an honor to have been invited to participate in the “Women Composers of the MacDowell Colony” concert. 

Those personal and musical experiences form friendships and professional relationships that last over many years.  Fun jokes, Facebook postings, Instagram pictures and emails link us together to this day. 

Nearly a year ago Dr. Sharon Johnson emailed to say she owed me an email and would follow up soon.  Her school year at Houghton University was coming to an end with a full schedule of recitals, juries and final tests.  Several weeks later, Sharon and I had a Zoom meeting and had many more meetings over months that opened a door to creating a women composers concert at Houghton University.  What an absolute joy those months of discussing women composers of Gena Branscombe’s era was. We researched composer’s pieces to be performed by students and faculty, the order of the program, lecturing for classes and coaching students on their music.

Being in residence at Houghton University from March 22 through the 26^th was a privilege.  Coaching the students on the works of Ulric Cole, Gena Branscombe, Mary Howe and Mary Turner Salter was great fun.  The singers and pianists were open to any suggestions given. In addition, I presented my lecture, “Gena Branscombe – A Woman Composer Lost – Now Found” for Sharon’s song literature class and coached the musicians in their Collaborative Practicum class.

On Tuesday evening March 24^th students and faculty performed the “Bringing Back Branscombe and Friends” concert. Introducing and narrating the concert allowed the audience a deeper understanding of who the women composers were and where they fit in history.  Every performer dedicated themselves to their songs, piano works, Gena’s tour-de-force violin sonata and more. What a thrill it was to be part of this concert. 

There are many people to thank for this opportunity.  First, to Dr. Sharon Johnson, who is the Horne-Blanchard Endowed Chair of Music at the Greatbatch School of Music at Houghton University, a special thank you for inviting me to work with you on your first Women’s History Month concert.  We did share a great deal of laughter and with that we created a memorable program.  Thank you to Dr. David Clem, Chair of the Music Department for his support and belief in this concert.  Thanks to Rachel Drecker the music department’s administrative assistant.  Thanks to my friend and Gena Branscombe Co-Founder, Dan Ryan, for designing the poster. Thank you to all of the student and faculty performers, you were a joy to coach and watch perform.  Thank you!

 Indeed March was a busy month – a month filled with music composed by women over 100 years ago.  Sharing this music with young musicians who will carry this experience into their future and hopefully program works by woman composers on their future concerts was truly a thrill.  We must all remember we do not know everything and cannot know everything, yet, if you leave yourself open, even curious, to new experiences, new composers, your self-growth will surprise you in the most wonderful ways. 

 #BringingBackBranscombe