2/27/2024, The Merian Ensemble

2023 | 2024

Welcome to the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts.

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404.727.5050 | schwartz.emory.edu | boxoffice@emory.edu

Audience Information The Schwartz Center welcomes members of Mu Phi Epsilon and a volunteer usher corps of about 40 members each year. Visit schwartz.emory.edu/volunteer or call 404.727.6640 for ushering opportunities.

The Schwartz Center is committed to providing performances and facilities accessible to all. Please direct accommodation requests to the Schwartz Center Box Office at 404.727.5050, or by email at boxoffice@emory.edu.

The Schwartz Center wishes to gratefully acknowledge the generous ongoing support of Donna and Marvin Schwartz.

Cover Design: Lisa Baron | Cover Photo: Mark Teague

MUSIC 2023 | 2024

Listen: Works by Women 2024– Myth and Nature The Merian Ensemble

Christina Smith, flute and alto flute Emily Brebach, oboe and English horn Marci Gurnow, clarinet and bass clarinet Jessica Oudin, viola Elisabeth Remy Johnson, harp Tuesday, February 27, 2024, 8:00 p.m.

Emerson Concert Hall Schwartz Center for Performing Arts

Program The Book of Spells Clarice Assad Chapter I. Love and Relationships, The Siren’s Seduction (b. 1978) Chapter II. Wealth and Prosperity, Spell of Summon Greed Chapter III. Health and Well-being, A Spell for Global Healing The Merian Ensemble

Amy Beach (1867–1944) adapted for harp by Elisabeth Remy Johnson

Berceuse

Marci Gurnow, clarinet; Elisabeth Remy Johnson, harp

Sea-shore Suite, op. 3b 1. Gulls 2. Sea Anemone 3. Stormy Beach

Ruth Gipps (1921–1999) adapted for harp by Elisabeth Remy Johnson

Emily Brebach, oboe; Elisabeth Remy Johnson, harp

Danielle Eva Schwob (b. 1986)

Breathing Underwater

Christina Smith, flute; Jessica Oudin, viola; Elisabeth Remy Johnson, harp

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Intermission Jennifer Higdon (b. 1962)

The Sound of Light The Merian Ensemble

Leilehua Lanzilotti (b. 1983)

meridian The Merian Ensemble

Soon Hee Newbold (b. 1974)

Alis Volat Propriis * World Premiere The Merian Ensemble

The Merian Ensemble wishes to recognize the support of the following organizations: The Book of Spells (Assad) commission was supported in part by a grant from the American Harp Society.

The Sound of Light (Higdon) was commissioned for the Merian Ensemble by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra to honor Janine Brown in gratitude for her support and leadership. meridian (Lanzilotti) was commissioned by the Merian Ensemble with the generous support of Gretchen Nagy and Allan Sandlin, and supported in part by the Bogliasco Foundation with the generous support of the Edward T. Cone Special Fellowship in Music.

Alis Volat Propriis (Newbold) was commissioned for the Merian Ensemble by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra to honor the memory of Betty Sands Fuller in gratitude for her decades of leadership and support of the Orchestra.

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The Merian Ensemble

Photo by CatMax Photography

The Merian Ensemble is a chamber music group dedicated to promoting the standard of an inclusive repertoire. The group was formed in 2018 by five women musicians from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, determined to counteract the striking dearth in women composers programmed in classical music settings. Through its “Listen: Works by Women” initiatives, the Merian Ensemble performs the abundant repertoire of music by women and commissions a new work each year. In addition to traditional concerts, they give outreach performances for school-age children and presentations in public spaces throughout Atlanta. The ensemble’s performances have been featured more than 20 times on NPR’s Performance Today, and it was a recipient of a travel grant from Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation through USArtists International. To date, the ensemble has commissioned seven new works funded by grants from Agnes Scott College, the American Harp Society, the PRS Foundation, and private donors. The Merian Ensemble recently recorded an album of its commissioned works, funded by grants from the Gable Foundation, the John and Rosemary Brown Family Foundation, the Atlanta Foundation, the Vaughan Williams Foundation, and private donors. The recording will be released by PARMA Recordings in late summer 2024. The Merian Ensemble is supported by New Music USA’s Organization Fund in 2023– 2024. For more information, visit TheMerianEnsemble.com.

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Upcoming Emory Music Concerts Many concerts at Emory are free to attend. Visit music.emory.edu or schwartz.emory.edu to view complete event information. If a ticket is required for attendance, prices are indicated in the listings below in the following order: Full price/Emory student price (unless otherwise noted as the price for all students).

Friday, March 1, noon, Bertrand Giraud, piano, ECMSA: Cooke Noontime Series, Carlos Museum, free, registration required Friday, March 1, 1:00 p.m., Eli Parrish, clarinet/composition/conducting, student honors recital, Schwartz Center, Emerson Concert Hall, free Sunday, March 3, 3:30 p.m., Solomon Young-joon Kim, composition, student honors recital, Performing Arts Studio, free Thursday, March 7, 8:00 p.m., Emory University Symphony Orchestra featuring Eighth Blackbird, Schwartz Center, Emerson Concert Hall, free, tickets required Friday, March 15 and Saturday, March 16, 8:00 p.m., Same Light, Different Lanterns, Atlanta Master Chorale, Schwartz Center, Emerson Concert Hall, $38/$10, tickets required Friday, March 22, 3:00 p.m., Karyn Lisker, soprano, student honors recital, Performing Arts Studio, free Friday, March 22, 8:00 p.m., Turtle Island Quartet: Island Prayers, Candler Concert Series, Schwartz Center, Emerson Concert Hall, $45/$10, tickets required Saturday, March 23, noon, Jessie Zhu, piano, student recital, Performing Arts Studio, free Saturday, March 23, 2:00 p.m., Athena Grasso, piano, student honors recital, Schwartz Center, Emerson Concert Hall, free Saturday, March 23, 3:30 p.m., Chloe Nelson, violin, student recital, Performing Arts Studio, free Saturday, March 23, 5:00 p.m., Colin Song, piano, student honors recital, Schwartz Center, Emerson Concert Hall, free 7

Music at Emory Music at Emory brings together students, faculty, and world-class artists to create an exciting and innovative season of performances, lectures, workshops, and master classes. With more than 150 events each year across multiple Emory venues, audiences experience a wide variety of musical offerings.

We hope you enjoy sampling an assortment of work from our student ensembles, community youth ensembles, artists in residence, professional faculty, up-and-coming prodigies, and virtuosos from around the world.

music.emory.edu