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.
Biography
Allyson (Ally) C. Harvel (she/her/hers) is a composer, conductor, and soprano based in North Carolina. She is passionate about creating rich choral tapestries that touch audiences and resonate with performers. A firm believer in collaboration and connection through music, she aims to create works that inspire, invigorate, and unify artists and ensembles.
Born in North Carolina, Ally (b. 2001) began exploring at the piano as a young child. After starting formal piano and voice lessons, she immediately began crafting her own pieces. She began singing in choirs in middle school and swiftly fell in love with the art of choral music. Ally later attended Davidson College, earning a B.A. in Music with honors via a composition portfolio and minoring in Mathematics. She has taught and mentored middle school and high school choral students from a myriad of communities across North Carolina. Currently, she is pursuing her master’s degree in Composition and a post-baccalaureate certificate in Choral Conducting at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Her works have been performed by the Charlotte Chamber Choir, the 2025 North Carolina Governor’s School East Mixed Choir, Present Continuous, and the Davidson College Chamber Singers. She is a 2025 winner of the HerVoice Emerging Women Composers Competition. Her winning piece is set to be performed in 2027 by the Santa Fe Desert Chorale.
Ally has studied composition under Dr. Jennifer Stasack, Dr. Alejandro Rutty, Dr. Mark Engebretson, and Jocelyn Hagen. In addition to her compositional studies, Ally has studied choral conducting under Dr. Carole Ott and Renata Berlin, classical voice under Ilana Lubitsch, and classical piano under Cynthia Lawing.
Also an active choral singer, Ally has been a member of the Charlotte Master Chorale, the Charlotte Master Chorale Chamber Singers, the UNCG Chamber Singers, and the Davidson College Chamber Singers.
Website & Social Media
