Portfolio Project

by Jacob Smith Commissioned in 2026 as part of the Portfolio Project. Program Note “Move fast and break things. Unless you are breaking stuff, you are not moving fast enough.” – Mark Zuckerberg This quote, attributed to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg regarding his company’s approach to innovation, has received both widespread acclaim and criticism since…

by Ronja Mokranova Commissioned in 2026 as part of the Portfolio Project. Program Note Written for the Ciompi Quartet the piece is based on the composer’s memory of a meadow in the Czech mountains called Javořinka, where the famous Kubelík family lived in a wooden cabin during WWII. Above the cabin is a hill on…

by Clem Pearson Commissioned in 2026 as part of the Portfolio Project. Program Note Foxfire is a piece about the stillness of night, and about places that seem to bridge the gap to another world. There are many such places in the hills where I grew up. In Foxfire, I imagine a strange glow coming…

by Erich Barganier Commissioned in 2026 as part of the Portfolio Project. Program Note The Dead Dog And Pony Show is inspired by the ecological philosophies of Timothy Morton, as well as an article by Włodarczyk Justyna and Jack Harrison titled “Discordant Harmonies: Interspecies Relations in the United States.” The article centers on interspecies harmony,…

by Allyson (Ally) C. Harvel Commissioned in 2026 as part of the Portfolio Project. Program Note Thematically, the piece grapples with the loss of a relationship, friendship, or loved one and ultimately leans on the idea that maybe in the next life or when they meet again, everything will work out differently. Composer Biography Allyson…