Presenting the winners of our 2025 Seed Money Grants! This year, we have awarded eight grants of $1000 each to a diverse group of performers. We will support seven focused concerts and one disseminated project. Several of the grantees include multimedia elements in their programs, some of the focused grants will be presenting their concerts more than once, and one is bringing a fresh, informal approach to their concerts to introduce new audiences to contemporary classical music. The winners are listed alphabetically:

Aperitono Ensemble: The money from this seed grant will be used to support the inaugural season of Aperitono!, a new chamber music series developed for young adults in New York, NY. Co-founded by two pianists and duo partners Calvin Hu (www.calvin-hu.com) and Katherine Miller (www.katherinemillerpianist.com), “this season we plan to present four concerts in December, January, March, and May with different instrumentation for each event. In keeping with the happy hour theme for the series, for each concert, we will work with a bartender to prepare mocktail/cocktails that pair thematically with each concert. We will be happy to finalize the concert themes after determining the repertoire we receive from New York Women Composers. Concerts will be held in high-traffic areas of the city, and designed to attract young adults in the city looking for an interesting and low-commitment way of engaging with concert music.”

Berten D’Hollander–Nina Siniakova Duo: This flute and piano duo (www.bertendhollander.com; www.ninasiniakova.com) is renowned for its dynamic presence and compelling stage artistry. Their performances are both bold and deeply engaging, distinguished by striking charisma and profound musicality. As internationally recognized musicians, they have shared their unique artistic voices with audiences across Europe and the United States. “We invite members of NYWC to submit works for flute and piano, solo flute or solo piano inspired by America—its landscapes, values, or history.” Selected works will be featured on a concert program “Bridging Currents” for the Beveridge Webster Concert Series in Dartmouth, New Hampshire, on April 18th, 2026.

Khemia Ensemble: Hailed by the Columbia Daily Tribune as adding a “fresh dimension” to the concert experience, Khemia Ensemble embraces broad perspectives in contemporary classical chamber music. With its dynamic instrumentation (soprano, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, and two percussion), Khemia’s unique sound world encompasses the presentation of new classical music with a mix of acoustic chamber works, multimedia, and multi-genre influences. They propose a concert featuring several members of New York Women Composers. Since their members are based in several states, the specific venue will be determined later. You can watch their introductory video here: https://youtu.be/1XFxFSWE2k0?si=Tie7C9eDtTTM4MWk

Kristen Mather de Andrade and Yalin Chi: This clarinet and piano duo based in Westchester will perform a concert interwoven with a curated visual art exhibition. They have already chosen NYWC works by Alla Pavlova, Rain Worthington, and Jane Leslie, but will issue an open call so that other NYWC composers may participate. A key distinguishing feature of this project is its integration of visual art. They will issue a call for works to local photographers in Westchester County, inviting them to submit pieces inspired by the themes, moods, and narratives present in the musical selections. Kristen has served as Principal Clarinetist in the West Point Band since 2007 and teaches at SUNY New Paltz. Yalin is also a member of the West Point Band. The performers’ websites are https://kristenmather.com/home and https://www.yalinchi.com.

Nu Quintet: This acclaimed woodwind quintet (www.nuquintet.com) will present a program exclusively of 5-7 NYWC composers with one live concert in New York City in early summer 2026 (possibly at the Flute Center of New York in their popular “Salon Series”) followed by another at the La Grua Center’s “Music Matters” monthly series during the fall of 2026 in Connecticut with recordings of both performances and uploads on YouTube. The composers will be invited to talk about their works, either at the concert or through recorded video. If possible, the quintet will select a general theme for the concert after choosing their scores.

Skyline Bones: Skyline Bones trombone trio (www.jacobelkin.com/skyline-bones) will present a concert of NYWC music at Opera America Studios in NYC that will be professionally audio video recorded and live-streamed. “We will have 4 rehearsals over a two-week period beforehand for composers to attend in person or via live stream to collaborate and provide feedback on musical performance of their work. Through Skyline Bones trio’s past experience working through groups, such as New York Composer’s Circle and hosting our own events, we will publicize on our social media outlets and share with our affiliated connections to maximize public exposure to reach audiences.”

Elisabeth Stevens: Elisabeth Stevens (www.elisabeth-stevens.com) is a soprano, composer, poet, producer, and teacher of voice. Her project, She Speaks, is a chamber music concert celebrating the expressive and poetic power of women, told through the music and words of women composers and poets. Curated and performed by soprano Elisabeth Stevens, the concert will take place in March 2026 in honor of Women’s History Month, in a formal recital hall in New York City. The call for NYWC works will request compositions on texts by women composers with music that pushes genre boundaries, speaks across cultural borders, and offers strong emotional resonance. Both the Corley and Stevens pieces are written on texts by the composers; similar formats will be welcome— not required—from NYWC members. Works should be scored for soprano voice with two to eight additional instruments. Each work should feature a unique instrumentation to highlight a broad palette of sound colors. She Speaks will continue beyond its March 2026 debut. The program will be proposed to colleges, universities, chamber series, and festivals where she is engaged as a performer or guest artist.

Spark Duo: Kate Amrine and Ford Fourqurean are Spark Duo (www.thesparkduo.com), performing new premieres for clarinet and trumpet, mixing solos, duos, improvisations, and live electronics. “We are especially interested in programming NYC composers, as many of our other pieces that we have commissioned are by New Yorkers, whom we can invite to speak before each piece during our concert. Many of our pieces have visual video accompaniment as well, and we would love to collaborate with composers on putting together an extra musical element of their piece. We would record the performance and capture a studio recording of each work as well. We will be performing in a New York City venue to be confirmed later.”

2024 SEED MONEY GRANT RECIPIENTS

A longtime, passionate advocate of music by women, pianist Marcia Eckert will present a concert for soprano and piano with soprano Sara Paar, with the possible assistance of violinist Lynn Bechtold, in a concert entirely of music by New York Women Composers to be held in a location in Manhattan. You can visit her website for more information: http://marciaeckert.com/. Eckert is the recipient of our Jonathan Falk Seed Money Grant.

The Athens, Greece-based Galan Trio, comprising violin, cello, and piano, has initiated a multi-year project called “Kinesis,” collaborating with composers across the United States. They will perform a concert called “Women of Our Time,” combining the music of NYWC composers with other music they already have in their repertoire. This concert will occur in Athens, Greece. Visit their website for more information at https://www.galantrio.com/.

Queens-based clarinetist Crystal Gloria Medina (known as Medina), along with pianist Margrit Julia Zimmermann, will perform two concerts in New York City. Her project, called “Evolutions,” seeks to present three centuries of women composers who have written music for the clarinet, adding to the known repertoire for that instrument. Medina is a dynamic performer and communicator on stage; her website is here: https://www.medinaclarinet.com/.

Albany-based cellist Laura Melnicoff will present a concert of solo cello music in the Capitol Region featuring both NYWC composers and other women composers that she is exploring in her repertoire. She intends to livestream and record the concert, and also hopes to make studio recordings of the works that she has selected. You can read more about her on her website: https://lauramelnicoff.com/. She is the recipient of our Hilary Tann Seed Money Grant.

Bassoonist Christin Schillinger, currently on the faculties of Ithaca College and Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, has a broad plan focusing on a full concert of music by women composers, featuring a piece she is collaborating on with NYWC member Sally Lamb McCune as well as composers to be chosen through an open call. Her concert will include music for solo bassoon, bassoon and piano, and bassoon and saxophone. She plans to livestream and videotape the concert as well as submit portions of the program for consideration to bassoon and double reed conferences and symposia. You can find out more on her website: https://www.schillingerbassoon.com/. 

The Tokyo to New York composer/performer project will present parallel concerts of chosen works for clarinet, violin, cello, and piano at the Martha Graham Studio Theater in Manhattan and the Tokyo Concert Lab Hall in Tokyo. Professional audio and video recordings will be made of both concerts. Read more about this group at http://www.tonadaproductions.com/tokyo-to-new-york-home.html.

Oboist William Wielgus, who recently retired after a long tenure at the National Symphony in order to do his own research and performance projects, will present a recital in Manhattan presenting oboe music by women composers. He is amassing a YouTube playlist of music by women and is eager to perform and disseminate more pieces that are new to him. Access his YouTube playlist here: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC_ySo-Nx590n9zcLVktRSlP3nGYKUI0d and find out more about him on his Facebook page: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063595117388. Mr. Wielgus is the recipient of our Elizabeth Bell Seed Money Grant. 

Based in Chicago, pianist Amy Wurtz has gained a following on YouTube for her videos exploring women’s music for piano during Women’s History Month the past two years. Her project for 2025 is to explore the music of New York women composers, past or present, performing one piece each day in March, culminating in a live public-venue program. She plans to include the music of 10-20 NYWC members for this project. She may also include some 4-hand piano works and works for cello and piano, featuring her Wurtz-Berger Duo. You can peruse her YouTube video playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/@AmyWurtz and see her website for more information: https://www.amywurtz.com/.

 

2022 SEED MONEY GRANT RECIPIENTS

Presenting the winners of our 2022 Seed Money Grants! We awarded seven grants, two foreign (Belgium and Argentina) and five domestic (one of these is actually both, a concert in New York to be repeated in Tokyo, Japan). One grant is in a disseminated format, and the rest are focused grants. 

The winners are listed alphabetically:

Donna Weng Friedman, pianist: Ms. Friedman will present a two-part concert event called “Five Composers and a Pianist.” The first portion will be a 50-minute concert of works by NYWC composers, three of whom (Beata Moon, Kim Sherman, and Stefania De Kenessey) have been chosen, with an additional two composers to be selected through an open call. The second portion of the event will be a 30-40-minute panel discussion with the composers. The venue will be in New York City, with Steinway Hall and the National Arts Club under consideration. The target date for this event will be March 2023. Her website is here: (https://www.newschool.edu/mannes/faculty/Donna-Weng-Friedman)

Javier Oviedo, saxophonist: Mr. Oviedo, Executive Director of the Classical Saxophone Project, will present a 90-minute solo recital at the National Opera Center’s Scorca Hall accompanied by Dr. Suk Hee Hong entitled “New York Faces.” The live concert will be supplemented by a videotaping that will be available to view on the Saxophone Project’s YouTube and Instagram platforms. More information about the Classical Saxophone Project is available on their website, www.classicalsaxproject.org.

Milica Paranosic, composer (project with NYWC composers Lynn Bechtold and Ann Warren): This unique concert in coordination with Ms. Paranosic’s “Secret City” art projects will be in four parts, with compositions by Lynn Bechtold (played by Miolina, her violin duo with NYWC member Mioi Takeda), Ann Warren, and Ms. Paranosic, along with a fourth composer chosen through an open call. Each segment will include a mini “set design” created out of abandoned or discarded objects, be co-coordinated by Paracademia, and be performed either at Gallery MC or The Bernie Wohl Center/Goddard Riverside. Ms. Paranosic’s multi-faceted website is https://milicaparanosic.com/

Thomas Piercy, clarinetist and hichiriki player: Mr. Piercy, along with pianist Tengfu Irfan and a cellist, will perform twin 90-minute concerts in New York and Tokyo, including the works of Tokyo-based composers Kyoko Hirai, Miho Sasaki, Yu Kuwabara, already selected NYWC composers Elisenda Fabregas, Nina Siniakova, and Lora Al-Ahmad, as well as two more NYWC composers to be selected from an open call. His website is here: http://www.thomaspiercy.com/ and his project information is here:
http://www.tonadaproductions.com/tokyo-to-new-york-home.html

Sergio Puccini, guitarist: Mr. Puccini, whose celebrated career spans 45 years, will present a concert in Rosario, Argentina at the Museo Castagnino or similar venue which will also be streamed live. The concert is tentatively scheduled to take place in October 2022. He will be choosing his repertoire for the concert through an open call. His website is currently undergoing maintenance, but here is a substitute for now: https://ppsites.wixsite.com/sergiopuccini

Françoise Vanhecke, soprano: Ms. Vanhecke’s project is an online streamed concert for the coming season at toitoiDROME http://drome.wtf/, an artist-run media space and collective based in Zendelingenstraat 38 A –  2140 Borgerhout (Antwerp, Belgium), consisting a physical space and headspace for experimentation and critical thinking, with additional plans to repeat the concert in a series of live concerts in Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Brazil, and the U.S. The instrumentation will consist of voice, either solo works or with the addition of piano and electronics, to be chosen through an open call. Her website is http://www.francoisevanhecke.com

Alexander Wu, pianist and chamber ensemble director: Mr. Wu, who is a pianist and the Co-Founder/Artistic Director of the Millennium Chamber Players, will curate a disseminated series of concerts from this summer through spring of 2023 called “Made in America – Music Then and Now,” including the works of five NYWC members that his group has not previously performed. The project essays the evolution of America’s musical roots, tradition, and popular culture of the past three centuries, up to and including current compositions. His group’s website is https://www.millenniumchamberplayers.org/.