eNews: Internetzo – May 2026

Message from Seth Brenzel,
Executive Director

Summer is coming! Walden’s 2026 season begins in less than three weeks, and I could not be more excited to welcome nearly 100 participants to Dublin, New Hampshire, for another invigorating season of creative music-making. Read on to learn about our extraordinary lineup of free concerts and our superb faculty, staff, and artists who will bring the Walden experience to life once again for our students and audiences.

Even sooner than that, I hope you will join us for the premiere of a new commissioned work by Walden student Henry Vidaver, the latest recipient of The Walden School/PRISM Quartet Student Commissioning Award. Vidaver’s piece for saxophone quartet will be premiered by PRISM in Philadelphia on Saturday, June 6, at 7 pm and in New York City on Sunday, June 7, at 4 pm, on a program that also includes a premiere by Walden alum Teddy Poll. After each concert, there will be casual receptions for Walden alums and community members to gather. Please mark your calendars and plan to join us!

There are just a few spots remaining in our student body for Summer 2026. Applications for Walden’s 2026 summer programs are being accepted and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Both the Young Musicians Program (YMP) and Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR) will be held on the beautiful Dublin School campus in Dublin, New Hampshire. Read on for more details, and please help us spread the word!

This edition of InterNetzo also rounds up our recent and upcoming fundraising events, including an August 1 celebration in New Hampshire featuring pianist Eric Huebner, as well as lots of exciting community news.

I hope you will join us in Dublin–or online!–to experience the extraordinary breadth of creativity that will unfold at Walden this summer.

Seth Brenzel
Executive Director
(415) 587-8157

Upcoming Community Events

PRISM Quartet to premiere works by Walden alums

Young Musicians Program (YMP) alum Henry Vidaver (pictured, left) was selected last year as the winner of The Walden School/PRISM Quartet Student Commissioning Award, a longstanding partnership in which Walden and the PRISM Quartet collaborate to select a student composer, mentor that composer in completing their final score, and PRISM provides a world premiere performance experience.

On June 6 and 7, PRISM will give the first performances of Vidaver’s commissioned piece for saxophone quartet, Via Appia, on a program titled Premieres. The concerts will also feature a new commissioned work by YMP alum Teddy Poll.

Premieres by PRISM Quartet

Saturday, June 6, in Philadelphia, at 7 pm
Settlement Music School, Germantown Branch
6128 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA, 19144
$10, $22.50, or $35 General Admission (pay-what-you-wish)
Free Parking

Sunday, June 7, in New York City, at 4 pm
Christ & St. Stephens Church
120 W 69th St, New York, NY, 10023
$10, $22.50, or $35 General Admission (pay-what-you-wish)

There will be casual receptions after the concerts in both Philadelphia and New York for Walden alums and community members to gather. Please write to us at events@waldenschool.org if you are interested in attending or volunteering to help with the receptions!

Read more about Henry Vidaver and the PRISM commission

Henry Vidaver is the 24th winner of the PRISM Quartet/Walden School Student Commissioning Award, initiated in 2000 and presented annually to a current or recent YMP student. Described as “a bold ensemble that set the standard for contemporary-classical saxophone quartets” (The New York Times), PRISM has commissioned more than 300 works from eminent composers. Walden is proud to collaborate with PRISM Quartet on this opportunity to support young composers in their creative development.

Walden's Extraordinary 2026 Season

2026 Concert Series

Each summer, Walden’s award-winning Concert Series presents leading professional musicians and ensembles on concerts that are offered free of charge to the public and webcast through high-quality livestreams.

This summer, Walden will present exciting concerts and presentations by The Walden School Players, Ensemble Dal Niente, Duo della Luna, the International Contemporary Ensemble, W4rp Trio, New Orleans-based jazz performer Aurora Nealand, and Composers-in-Residence Nicole Mitchell and Nathan Davis.

All concerts will be free and open to the public, as well as livestreamed on Walden’s YouTube channel for a global audience. We hope you will join us—whether in person or virtually—for a season of dynamic performances, creative collaborations, and diverse new musical voices.

View the complete 2026 Concert Series lineup

2026 Faculty and Staff

Each summer, Walden assembles an accomplished and well-rounded team of faculty and staff to mentor and inspire our students. Our philosophy is that by participating together in all levels of community life, faculty, staff, visiting artists, and students can create an environment where creativity flourishes and mentorship abounds.

Walden’s 2026 faculty and staff team is a wonderful mix of returning team members, team members returning in new roles, and several new staff and faculty members. Walden’s faculty are a diverse group of improvisers, composers, conductors, performers, and music scholars, all of whom are committed to the creation and dissemination of new music and to developing the next generation’s composers, performers, arts leaders, and more.

Visit our website to learn about our incredible faculty and staff:

Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR) faculty and staff
Young Musicians Program (YMP) faculty and staff

Upcoming Fundraising Events

Join Walden's Summer of Creativity!

This summer, Walden is launching an online campaign—the Summer of Creativity—in which members of our community will undertake creative projects and solicit donations to Walden from their friends, colleagues, and family members in order to support scholarships and artist residencies at our summer programs. This create-a-thon is planned to run throughout Walden’s summer season, from June 13 through August 2.

We are seeking volunteers to join the Summer of Creativity. Please write to us at donors@waldenschool.org if you are interested in participating, or if you have any questions about the campaign.

Projects of all types are welcome, whether musical or nonmusical. Creative projects during previous create-a-thons have included: planting a garden pathway, learning to play a piano piece, writing a novella, composing a song cycle, writing haikus, recording an album, coding a computer application, and creating a piece of jewelry, to name just a few.

Monday, July 27: Giving Day

Save the date for Walden’s annual online day of giving, which will take place on the first day of Festival Week at the Young Musicians Program (YMP). We’ll share live video updates throughout the day, including snippets of Walden classes, rehearsals, and other daily activities, as well as interviews with students, faculty, staff, and artists about what makes the Walden experience special. Mark your calendars and tune in to support our students!

Saturday, August 1: A Walden Celebration and Fundraiser in New Hampshire

Featuring pianist Eric Huebner

We are delighted to announce pianist Eric Huebner as the featured artist for a Walden celebration and fundraiser in Dublin, New Hampshire, on Saturday, August 1, starting at 2 pm. Please mark your calendars and join us to celebrate the culmination of Walden’s 2026 season.

Pianist Eric Huebner has drawn worldwide acclaim for his performances of new and traditional music since making his debut with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at age 17. In January 2012, he was appointed pianist of the New York Philharmonic and currently holds the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Piano Chair. A devoted teacher as well as performer, Huebner is Professor and Chair of the Department of Music at the University at Buffalo (SUNY). He has been in residence at The Walden School during multiple seasons.

Event Recaps

A Walden Celebration and Fundraiser in Washington, DC

This celebration was held at the historic DACOR Bacon House in downtown Washington, DC, where guests enjoyed a duo performance by pianist Pallavi Mahidhara and violist/violinist Aurélien Fort Pederzoli, a past visiting artist at Walden. The Mahidhara-Fort duo performed music by Mozart, French baroque composer Marin Marais, and contemporary Icelandic composer Veronique Vaka.

Above: Aurélien Fort Pederzoli and Pallavi Mahidhara performing

We are very grateful to all of our event donors, who contributed $6,850 to Walden’s Annual Fund as part of this celebration. Thank you!

Thank you to our host committee: JoAnn Balingit, Seth Brenzel, Peter Colohan and Fenton Blake, Francine Hochberg-Giuffrida and Jeffrey Giuffrida, Steve Messner and Liz Prelinger, Noah Mlotek, and Will Yale

❤️ Support Walden Today ❤️

Above: Walden alums Noah Mlotek, Seth Brenzel, Russell Nadel, Tyson Laa Deng, Francesca Hellerman, and Nora Giuffrida

A Walden Celebration and Fundraiser in New York City

This event drew more than 65 guests to the historic, art-filled Salmagundi Club in Greenwich Village, for a solo recital by pianist Blair McMillen, who has appeared as a visiting artist at Walden during multiple seasons. McMillen performed works by Claude Debussy, Margaret Bonds, William Bolcom, and Gabriella Smith, as well as a composition written at Walden last summer by Young Musicians Program (YMP) alum Sébastien Nothias.

Thanks to our event donors, we raised $6,360 for Walden’s Annual Fund as part of this celebration. Thank you! Thanks also to Kate Valenta, Alex Johnston, and Scott Menchin for donating several wonderful raffle prizes.

Thank you to our host committee: Whit Bernard and Freya Zaheer, David Bivins and Kristen Davis, Seth Brenzel, Sarah Cornog and Chris Chesney, Gaela Dennison-Leonard, Andrew Jacobs and Kathy Park, Hilary Kole and Chad Hoeppner, Sookyoung Lee and Matthew Egan, Tessie McGough, Scott Menchin and Yvetta Fedorova, Noah Mlotek, Sammi Jo Stone, Solon Snider Sway and Emma Sway, Kate Valenta and Alex Johnston, Jennifer Weidman and Barry Adler

❤️ Support Walden Today ❤️

Above left: Theo Trevisan, Rodier, Solon Snider Sway, and Anne Trevisan; above right: Jonathan McCullagh, Kathy Park, and Andrew Jacobs

A Few Spots Remain for Walden 2026

Applications are being accepted for Summer 2026!

There’s still time to apply to The Walden School’s 2026 summer programs! Applications to both the Young Musicians Program (YMP) and Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR) are currently being accepted and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Don't delay!

We encourage you to share the news with your friends, family, colleagues, students, and teachers.

Creative Musicians Retreat
June 13–21, 2026
Dublin School, Dublin, New Hampshire
for musicians ages 18-98

Young Musicians Program
June 27–August 2, 2026
Dublin School, Dublin, New Hampshire
for pre-college musicians, ages 9-18

Application materials for both programs are available on our website.

Write to us at applicants@waldenschool.org with any questions.

Apply to Walden 2026!

Walden Merchandise

Wonderful Walden merch is for sale on our website! We have Walden beach towels, blankets, vintage summer program shirts (YMP and CMR alumni: ask about your year!), canvas totes, stickers, pens, pencils, and more.

See what’s available and fill out an order form here.

Payment can be made by check, money order, Zelle, credit card, or PayPal. Zelle and PayPal payments should be directed to billing@waldenschool.org.

Please contact Mindy Williams, Walden’s Administrative Director, or call the Walden office at (415) 587-8157 if you have any questions.

🎁Order Walden Merch🎁

Community News

Kyra Sims voyages to Antarctica

Hornist Kyra Sims, a member of The Walden School Players, travelled to Antarctica through a fellowship from Polar STEAM, which pairs artists and educators with Antarctic scientists on polar expeditions. Apart from Metallica, Sims is the only musician in the world known to have performed on all seven continents!

During the expedition, Sims wrote a piece called First Year Sea Ice in honor of her ship, the research vessel Sikuliaq. Sikuliaq” is an Iñupiaq term meaning “young sea ice.” She also created a piece called Otto in Antarctica (Otto is the name of her horn), incorporating field recordings from the voyage, and she worked closely with the scientists on board studying the effects of climate change on the region’s complex ecosystems. Sims was interviewed about the experience by PRI’s The World.

Two Walden composers honored by American Academy

In February, the American Academy of Arts and Letters announced its 2026 Music Award winners, two of whom are connected with Walden. Katherine Balch is a former Walden faculty member and Natacha Diels is an alum of Walden’s Teacher Training Institute (TTI). Both Balch and Diehls received Arts and Letters awards, which recognize composers who have “arrived at their own voice.” Each award comes with $10,000 plus a $10,000 grant toward a recording of one of the composer’s works. A concert of works by each recipient will be presented in the Arts and Letters Library in New York City. Congratulations, Katie and Natacha!

Walden student featured at WoCo Fest

Nora Giuffrida, a Young Musicians Program (YMP) alum, had one of her compositions performed on the opening concert of WoCo Fest 2026 at Strathmore in Bethesda, Maryland. WoCo Fest is a celebration of music by women and gender-marginalized composers, presented annually by the Boulanger Initiative. Nora’s 2025 Walden Festival Piece, The Dove, was performed by violinist Audrey Wright, a member of the New York Philharmonic who performs with live electronics and sound-responsive light art as Luminous Being. Noah Mlotek, Walden’s Director of Development and Alumni Relations, was in attendance, along with Boulanger Initiative co-founders Laura C!olgate and Joy-Leilani Garbutt. The next day, Nora joined Noah in staffing an informational table for Walden. Congratulations, Nora, and thanks for volunteering

Victoria Cheah awarded Rome Prize

YMP alum Victoria Cheah, a composer and electronic musician, was awarded a 2026–2027 Rome Prize in musical composition. This prestigious honor supports innovative and cross-disciplinary work in the arts and humanities, providing recipients with time and space to work at the American Academy in Rome. Cheah is a graduate of Hunter College, received her PhD in composition from Brandeis University, and is a faculty member at Berklee College of Music/Boston Conservatory. Congratulations, Tori!

Walden Artist receives Guggenheim Fellowship

Violinist Josh Modney, who performs as Modney, has been named as a 2026 Guggenheim Fellow. Modney is a frequent visiting artist at Walden’s summer programs, often in association with the International Contemporary Ensemble. Modney also performed at a Walden celebration and fundraiser in Washington, DC, in May 2024. Congratulations, Josh!

International Contemporary Ensemble performs music by Marcos Balter and Andromeda Wen

The International Contemporary Ensemble, a frequent Walden visiting ensemble, performed two pieces by past Walden composer-in-residence Marcos Balter on May 21. The program, which also featured works by Du Yun, Anthony Braxton, and Yaz Lancaster, was followed by a discussion between Balter and the performers about the creative process of composition in today’s world. The event was co-presented by MacDowell, the renowned artist residency in Peterborough, New Hampshire, right near Walden’s summer home in New Hampshire’s Monadnock region.

On Thursday, June 4, the International Contemporary Ensemble will join the celebration of Luna Composition Lab’s 10th anniversary by presenting a concert titled Luna Lab@10, New Moons, featuring six world premieres by 2025-26 fellows, including Echoes by Andromeda Wen, a YMP alum. Alongside these premieres, the Ensemble will perform works by Luna Lab mentor composers Vivian Fung, Brittany J. Green, and Angélica Negrón.

Carlos Pereira releases new album

A new album of original compositions by YMP faculty member Carlos Henrique Pereira is available now from Salvaterra Music. Northern Readings features Pereira performing on piano and guitar alongside a small ensemble. His compositions span influences including Brazilian music, jazz improvisation, and chamber music. A review in Jazz Views describes the album as “a delightful exploration of sonic landscapes and instrumental combinations,” and quotes Carlos as citing his Walden teaching experience as a major influence on his compositional approach.

Wet Ink Ensemble performs music by Aurora Nealand

Aurora Nealand is familiar to the Walden community through her much-loved annual concert of New Orleans-style jazz during Walden’s Young Musicians Program, which will take place again this year on Friday, July 3. Nealand is also a composer and former Walden faculty member. New York-based contemporary music ensemble Wet Ink will premiere a new octet by Nealand on Wednesday, June 10, at Roulette in Brooklyn. The performance is the culmination of her time as Artist-in-Residence for Wet Ink’s 2025–2026 season. The concert will also include works by Jo Kondo, Jürg Frey, and Wet Ink member Alex Mincek. Wet Ink Ensemble has appeared on Walden’s Concert Series during multiple seasons, and the ensemble includes several Walden-affiliated artists, including Sam Pluta, Modney, and Mariel Roberts Musa.

Work of Walden alum recorded in Helsinki

This past February, Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR) alum Drew Kravin produced a video recording of A Northern Summer Evening, featuring mezzo-soprano, violin, vibraphone, and piano, at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland. Drew originally composed this piece for CMR in 2023. YMP and CMR alum Niki Main, who is pursuing a master’s degree at the Sibelius Academy, recruited the musicians and videographer, and coordinated and directed the video. The video description includes background about the piece as well as the text, along with the translation of the Finnish parts

Sol Quartet performs work by Derek David

In April, past Walden visiting ensemble Del Sol Quartet performed a clarinet quintet by Derek David, a former YMP faculty member, on concerts in Colorado and New Mexico. The quintet, titled Oh World, Goodnight, was co-commissioned in 2022 by Del Sol and The Rossini Club and was premiered with clarinetist Nick Davies. The piece showcases Derek’s love of Yiddish culture, klezmer music, and Baroque tradition.

Arlo Bivins works on Brian Lehrer Show at WNYC

Arlo Bivins, a YMP alum, is an intern with the Brian Lehrer Show on WNYC this spring. Through the internship, he has pitched and written several segments for the show on local and national topics and plans to write more segments in the coming months. Arlo says “the experience has been incredible and has pushed me to delve further into the social sciences.” Congratulations, Arlo!

Peter Pap profiled in Monadnock Ledger-Transcript

Peter Pap, a longtime Walden supporter, was recently profiled in the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript. The article focuses on his antique rug business, which has locations in both Dublin, New Hampshire, and San Francisco—neighboring Walden on both coasts! Currently, Pap is exhibiting Frank Stella’s Navajo textile collection in New York City.

Work by CMR alum premiered in Switzerland 

On April 16, a new work by CMR alum Vicente Hansen Atria was premiered by Ensemble Proton in Bern, Switzerland. Commissioned through the American Composers Forum, The Pilgrimage of Paracelsus draws on the 16th-century thinker’s rigor, imagination, and idiosyncrasies. Congratulations, Vicente!

New work by Ruth Hertzman-Miller premiered

On May 2, the Providence Medical Orchestra performed a new work by Ruth Herzman-Miller, a CMR alum. Titled The Things Between Us, the piece sets three texts by people with dementia from Living Words, a United Kingdom-based organization in which writers and artists work one-to-one in creative partnership with people in nursing homes. Congratulations, Ruth!

Walden alums premiere new work together

Two Walden community members recently performed together on the premiere of First Disobedience by Clark Nichols at Indiana University Bloomington Jacobs School of Music. The work is written for bass voice (sung by YMP alum Evan Tiapula), mandolin, and chamber orchestra. Will Hawkins, an alum and staff member at both YMP and CMR, played viola in the chamber ensemble. Congratulations to all involved!

We Want To Hear From You!

If you have a recent or upcoming premiere or concert, publication, award, new job, or a celebratory life event, please share your news, which needn’t be music-related (although we love your music-related news to be sure!). Email your news to alumni@waldenschool.org.

Stay in Touch

You can like The Walden School page on Facebook and join The Walden School private group to hear about events and opportunities throughout the year. You can also find us on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, bandcamp, and at waldenschool.org.

by Noah Mlotek

eNews: Internetzo – April 2026

Message from Seth Brenzel,
Executive Director

Dear Walden friends,

Spring is here, and the start of Walden’s 2026 summer season is less than two months away!

In the meantime, we have two wonderful Walden fundraising events coming up. This Sunday, April 26, Walden is hosting a celebration and fundraiser in Washington, DC, featuring pianist Pallavi Mahidhara and violist/violinist Aurélien Fort Pederzoli. Next month, we’ll be in in New York City, with a celebration and fundraiser on Sunday, May 17, featuring pianist Blair McMillen. I hope to see many Walden friends at these events! Please write to us if you are interested in attending.

There are just a few spots remaining in our student body for Summer 2026. Applications for Walden’s 2026 summer programs are being accepted and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Both the Young Musicians Program (YMP) and Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR) will be held on the beautiful Dublin School campus in Dublin, New Hampshire. Read on for more details, and please help us spread the word!

This edition of InterNetzo also includes a recap of last month’s Walden celebration in Los Angeles, featuring the amazing exilio vocal octet, as well as lots of exciting community news. Thank you for staying engaged with Walden, and please let us know if you have any updates for us to share in an upcoming newsletter!

Sincerely,

Seth Brenzel
Executive Director
(415) 587-8157

Upcoming Fundraising Events

A Walden celebration in Washington, DC

Sunday, April 26, 2026
3 to 5 p.m.
DACOR Bacon House

Please join us this Sunday, April 26, for a wonderful Walden afternoon in Washington, DC! Enjoy a performance by the Mahidhara-Fort Duo, which offers audiences the rare experience of hearing both violin-piano and viola-piano works on the same program. At this event, pianist Pallavi Mahidhara and violist/violinist Aurélien Fort Pederzoli (a past visiting artist at Walden) will perform works by Mozart, French baroque composer Marin Marais, and contemporary Icelandic composer Veronique Vaka.

RSVP for Walden's event in Washington, DC!

A Walden celebration in New York City

Sunday, May 17, 2026
3 to 5 p.m.
Salmagundi Club

Our next Walden fundraising event will feature pianist Blair McMillen, who will perform at the beautiful, art-filled Salmagundi Club in Greenwich Village. Hailed by the New York Times as “prodigiously accomplished and exciting” and as one of the piano’s “brilliant stars,” McMillen is a past visiting artist at The Walden School.

RSVP for Walden's event in New York City!

We hope you will join us at one (or both!) of these events, as we gather to celebrate Walden and its mission of inspiring artistic expression and personal growth through experiential music programs. Contributions to The Walden School Annual Fund will underwrite essential student scholarships and inspiring artist residencies at Walden’s programs this coming summer.

RSVP or contact us with questions at donors@waldenschool.org or (415) 587-8157.

Event Recap

A Walden fundraiser and celebration in Los Angeles

We were delighted to see many Walden community members, and to meet several new friends, at our fabulous celebration and fundraiser in Los Angeles on March 14. The event was held in the elegant Victory Ballroom at the Los Angeles Athletic Club in downtown LA. We enjoyed a performance by exilio, a dynamic LA-based vocal octet that champions underrepresented and emerging composers, and that includes two Walden School alums as vocalists and composers: Hannah Rice and Theo Trevisan, both of whom will be on faculty this summer at Walden’s Young Musicians Program. We are grateful to the members of exilio for sharing their talents and creativity with the Walden community.

We are very grateful to our host committee and all of our event donors, who contributed $8,080 to Walden’s Annual Fund as part of this celebration. Thank you!

Thanks also to Alan Chan and Amy Bryan for generously donating raffle gifts.

On behalf of our host committee, thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate music, community, and Walden in Los Angeles! And a big thank you to everyone who made gifts of support to Walden as part of this event.

Support Walden today!

Thank you to our host committee: JoAnn Balingit, Seth Brenzel, Amy Bryan, Alan Chan, Noah Mlotek, Joshua Rubin, Danielle Schindler Cheung, Stephen Smith, John Tarrh, Theo Trevisan, Jennifer Weidman, and Mindy Williams

A Few Spots Remain for Walden 2026

Applications are being accepted for Summer 2026!

There’s still time to apply to The Walden School’s 2026 summer programs! Applications to both the Young Musicians Program (YMP) and Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR) are currently being accepted and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Don’t delay!

We encourage you to share the news with your friends, family, colleagues, students, and teachers.

Creative Musicians Retreat
June 13–21, 2026
Dublin School, Dublin, New Hampshire
for musicians ages 18–98

Young Musicians Program
June 27–August 2, 2026
Dublin School, Dublin, New Hampshire
for pre-college musicians, ages 9–18

Application materials for both programs are available on our website.

Write to us at applicants@waldenschool.org with any questions.

Apply to Walden 2026!

Opportunities for Composers

Did you know that Walden hosts a continually updated  webpage of competitions, awards, and calls for scores? Please let us know of additional opportunities that may be of interest to the Walden community.

Here are some featured opportunities with upcoming deadlines:

Score Follower Call for Works 2026

Approximately 30 works will be selected by the Score Follower jury, produced as “score videos,” and uploaded to the Score Follower YouTube channel. Composers of any age, nationality, or background may submit up to three works for instruments and/or electronics. Apply by May 1, 2026.

Azrieli Music Prizes 2028

The Azrieli Music Prizes (AMP) offer opportunities for the discovery, creation, performance, and celebration of excellence in music composition. For the 2028 edition, there are three prizes for chamber music: the Azrieli Commission for Jewish Music; the Azrieli Commission for Canadian Music; and the Azrieli Commission for International Music. Winners are commissioned to create new works, to be delivered in summer 2028. Apply by May 6, 2026.

Susan Bergman Gurrentz ’56 Art Gallery at Chatham University Sound+ Installation Proposals

Chatham University’s Music Program and Arts, Design, & Communication Department are seeking sound and multimedia installation proposals from the SEAMUS (Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States) membership for its new Susan Bergman Gurrentz ’56 Art Gallery to be exhibited during the Fall 2026 semester. Exhibition attendance is not required for featured composers and artists, though those that are able to travel to Chatham’s campus in Pittsburgh will be invited to give a presentation about their work. SEAMUS membership is required to submit. Apply by May 17, 2026.

Franco Carillon Composition Proposal Contest

The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America (GCNA) invites proposals for the biennial Franco Carillon Composition Proposal Contest. The GCNA encourages composers who are relatively new to carillon composition to enter the Proposal Contest in order to receive support throughout the compositional process of a new carillon piece. The goals of this contest are to bring new voices to the carillon repertoire and to increase awareness of the carillon and its vast technical and expressive capabilities. Prize-winning proposals will be awarded $2,000 and will be published and premiered at the next GCNA Congress. Apply by June 16, 2026.

Community News

Peter Jones launches Sondheim podcast

Peter E. Jones, an alum of Walden’s Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR), has created a new podcast titled Loving You: The Untold Sondheim. Jones, who is Stephen Sondheim’s archivist, co-hosts the podcast with British theater artist Martin Milnes. The 12-episode podcast features previously unheard archival material and interviews with friends and collaborators of the legendary Broadway composer and lyricist, including Julie Andrews, Mia Farrow, and Lin-Manuel Miranda. The podcast began airing on March 5, and approximately half of the episodes have been released.

Marilyn Crispell releases album

Pianist Marilyn Crispell, an alum of the Junior Conservatory Camp (JCC), released a new album in March on the ECM record label. The album, Memento, is a collaboration with Swedish bassist Anders Jormin and features numerous compositions by Crispell, including Dragonfly, which she wrote in memory of bassist Gary Peacock. Also included on the album are several improvisations by each performer and by the duo. 

YMP alum signs with Giant Music, releases debut singles

YMP alum Maya Engenheiro has signed with the Giant Music record label under the artist name Maya Engen. With a sound described by HITS Magazine as “pop, jazz, and a tinge of country,” Maya released her debut single, called “Fool,” last month and recently released a second single, “Jade.” Both singles were also released as music videos. Congratulations, Maya!

New work by Lila Meretzky receives premiere performance

On April 16, London-based new music ensemble Apartment House premiered a new work by Lila Meretzky, a Walden faculty member. Her Quartet was performed alongside music by Michaël Lévinas, Tim Parkinson, and composer duo Morison/Opit. Presented at BBC’s Maida Vale Studio 3, the concert was recorded with plans for future broadcast on Radio 3’s New Music Show. Congratulations, Lila!

Walden Board member featured in table tennis profile

David Roberts, a member of Walden’s Board of Directors and the parent of a YMP alum, is also a competitive table tennis player. He plays at Seattle Pacific Table Tennis Club, which was recently featured in the Seattle Times. The article includes an action shot of David volleying a wide forehand. Congratulations, David!

Work of Walden faculty members performed by Talea Ensemble

On March 20, 2026, Talea Ensemble premiered a new work by former YMP faculty member Katie Balch, titled still life. The performance featured video projections designed by Ted Moore, an alum of Walden’s Teacher Training Institute (TTI) and longtime Walden faculty and staff member, who is married to Balch. Also on the program were premieres by Artun Çekem and Marti Epstein. Talea Ensemble includes several Walden visiting artists past and present: Laura Cocks (flute), Marianne Gythfeldt (clarinet), Rane Moore (clarinet), and Matthew Gold (percussion).

Yarn/Wire ensemble premieres work by George Lewis with New York Philharmonic

In concerts April 8-10, the piano/percussion quartet Yarn/Wire (a past visiting ensemble at Walden) and the New York Philharmonic premiered a new concerto by George E. Lewis, a past Composer-in-Residence at both of Walden’s summer programs. Conducted by Kwamé Ryan, the program featured Lewis’s new work, titled …ohne festen Wohnsitz…, alongside Charles Ives’ The Unanswered Question and vocal selections by Igor Stravinsky, Carlisle Floyd, and Samuel Barber, sung by soprano Golda Schultz. Lewis’s work was a co-commission by the New York Philharmonic and Philharmonie Luxembourg.

In other Yarn/Wire news, the ensemble is excited to perform at the SPOR Festival in Aarhus, Denmark, April 23-24. They also recently welcomed a new member, percussionist Dustin Donahue. Congratulations to all!

Pictured above: George Lewis with the members of Yarn/Wire, from Yarn/Wire's Instgram page

Michael Gilbertson celebrates two premieres

The Del Sol Quartet, a past visiting ensemble at Walden, premiered a new work by former YMP faculty member Michael Gilbertson on March 22. The concert took place at Boston Conservatory, where Gilbertson is a composition faculty member. The work, titled Prototype, was written for Del Sol and featured Gilbertson playing the ondes Martenot, an electronic instrument invented in the 1920s. On March 29-30, the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra premiered Gilbertson’s Cello Concerto featuring cellist Zuill Bailey. The orchestra commissioned the concerto following a successful commission of Gilberston’s Symphony in the 2024-25 season. Also on the program were Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 and Brahms’ Variations on a Theme by Haydn. Congratulations, Michael!

Eliza Brown and Chris Wild welcome baby

We are delighted to congratulate Eliza Brown and Chris Wild on the birth of their daughter, Dahlia. Eliza is a YMP alum and longtime Walden faculty member. Chris is a longtime cellist in The Walden School Players and also a former Walden faculty member. Eliza and Chris look forward to introducing Dahlia to the Walden community. Congratulations and welcome, Dahlia!

In Memoriam

Nancy Tsuyuki Jerome

We are sad to share the news that Nancy Chiyoko Tsuyuki Jerome, a past YMP faculty member, passed away on November 22, 2025. She was an elementary school music teacher in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, until her retirement in 2013. She was very active at Christ Our Anchor Presbyterian Church in Cape St. Claire, Maryland, where she was involved in choir, bell choir, the Christmas Pageant, and their Music and Art Camp. She also directed their Children’s Choir for many years. Nancy is survived by her husband of 33 years, Jeffrey, her sons, Brandon and Michael, her parents, and her siblings. Our condolences go out to Nancy’s family and loved ones.

We Want To Hear From You!

If you have a recent or upcoming premiere or concert, publication, award, new job, or a celebratory life event, please share your news, which needn’t be music-related (although we love your music-related news to be sure!). Email your news to alumni@waldenschool.org.

Stay in Touch

You can like The Walden School page on Facebook and join The Walden School private group to hear about events and opportunities throughout the year. You can also find us on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, bandcamp, and at waldenschool.org.

by Noah Mlotek

eNews: Internetzo – March 2026

Message from Seth Brenzel,
Executive Director

Dear Walden friends,

I hope the warmth of approaching spring is finding you wherever you are. My heart is warmed by the many ways Walden community members have been coming together to celebrate, make music, and prepare for another incredible summer of creativity in Dublin, New Hampshire.

February brought with it the second Memphis Composers Institute, a collaborative project between The Walden School, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, and the University of Memphis. Read on for a reflection on this exciting project by D. J. Sparr and Caroline Mallonee.

Throughout December and January, the Walden community came together at holiday parties, both in person and online. Thank you to those who opened their homes for these events, and to all who attended to celebrate the new year together!

Upcoming Walden events include a fundraiser and celebration in Los Angeles this Saturday, March 14, featuring exilio, a vocal ensemble that champions the work of emerging composers, and that boasts two Walden alumni as members. You won’t want to miss their performance! And please save the date for a fundraiser and celebration in Washington, DC on Sunday, April 26.

Applications for Walden’s 2026 summer programs are still open, and our spring application deadline is Monday, March 30. Both the Young Musicians Program (YMP) and Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR) will be held on the beautiful Dublin School campus in Dublin, New Hampshire. Walden is also hiring for several summer positions at YMP—read on for more details, and please help us spread the word!

Thanks for reading, and I hope to see you at a Walden event or program soon!

Sincerely,

Seth Brenzel
Executive Director
(415) 587-8157

Highlights from the 2026 Memphis Composers Institute

Below Right: Walden alumni, faculty, and staff at the Memphis Composers Institute 2026. Left to Right: Dede Ondishko, Sky Macklay, D.J. Sparr, Seth Brenzel, and Caroline Mallonee.

Reflections from D. J. Sparr and Caroline Mallonee

The 2026 Memphis Composers Institute was a success! Now in its second year, the Institute continues to grow as a meaningful winter offering for The Walden School, created in partnership with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music at the University of Memphis.

This year’s gathering began with an unexpected challenge: Memphis was still recovering from a major snowstorm, and rehearsal logistics shifted multiple times as icy conditions lingered. In true collaborative fashion, Memphis Symphony Executive Director Peter Abell and D. J. Sparr assessed the situation together and regrouped with Seth Brenzel over barbecue (a Memphis essential!) to finalize the plan. The first rehearsal was ultimately moved to the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, and the week moved forward smoothly after that—a testament to strong partnership and shared commitment.

The Memphis Symphony Orchestra (MSO) rehearsed and premiered four new works by living composers.

Three were selected from more than 150 submissions to the international call for scores: Dede Ondishko’s Singing Strength, incorporating birdsongs she recorded in South Carolina; Fulya Kapucugil’s Leaving the Nest, reflecting on the experience of leaving Turkey to pursue her musical studies in the United States; and Ethan Soledad’s Cages of Jade, which was inspired by poetry from Angel Island.

The program also featured Curtains of Light, a new orchestral work inspired by the Northern Lights by Walden alumna and Creative Musicians Retreat Director, Caroline Mallonee.

Throughout the week, undergraduate and graduate students from the University of Memphis — including students of Professors Kamran Ince and Mahir Cetiz — attended rehearsals and the concert, supported their colleague Fulya Kapucugil, and engaged closely with the music-making process.

For the selected composers, the opportunity to hear their work performed by a professional orchestra was transformative. As Fulya reflected, hearing the piece “as it is meant to be” and experiencing rehearsals from the composer’s seat is unlike any other moment in a young artist’s development. Ethan noted the rarity of working directly with a professional orchestra and the value of sharing new music with new audiences. Dede expressed deep gratitude for the chance to move her symphonic work out of isolation and into the hands of musicians and listeners. Carrie was thrilled to work with the enthusiastic orchestral musicians of the MSO.

The culminating concert on February 4 showcased not only four distinctive artistic voices but also Walden’s enduring commitment to mentorship, collaboration, and the lived experience of hearing new music come to life. It was inspiring to see that spirit extend beyond the summer and take root once again in Memphis.

Upcoming Fundraising Event

A Walden celebration and fundraiser in Los Angeles

Los Angeles Athletic Club
Saturday, March 14, 2026
6 to 8 p.m.

Please join The Walden School Board of Directors, along with Walden and Junior Conservatory Camp (JCC) alumni, faculty, staff, artists, and friends, for an evening of music and refreshments to celebrate Walden and support its 2026 summer music programs.

Guests will enjoy a performance by exilio, a dynamic Los Angeles-based vocal octet that includes two Walden School alums. The group is dedicated to highlighting underrepresented and emerging composers through performances and educational outreach.

This evening of music, community, and refreshments will celebrate Walden’s mission of inspiring artistic expression and personal growth through experiential music programs. Contributions to The Walden School Annual Fund will underwrite essential student scholarships and inspiring artist residencies at Walden’s programs this coming summer.

You are welcome to RSVP or contact us with any questions by emailing donors@waldenschool.org or calling (415) 587-8157.

RSVP for Walden's Los Angeles Event

Washington, DC – Save the Date!

Please save the date for a Walden celebration and fundraiser in Washington, DC on April 26, 2026. This afternoon of music, community, and refreshment will take place at the beautiful DACOR Bacon House. For more information or to RSVP, please email us or call us at (415) 587-8157.

2026 Walden Holiday Parties

Throughout December and January, Walden community members gathered for holiday/new year parties in cities around the country, and online!

Walden holiday parties were held in New York City, San Francisco, and Silver Spring, Maryland. Alumni of the Junior Conservatory Camp (JCC), Walden's predecessor program, also gathered for a holiday reunion over Zoom.

These events brought together Walden and JCC alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and board members for festive potluck gatherings. Delicious food and drinks were shared, music was played, new friendships and connections were made, and much merriment was had. Many thanks to our wonderful volunteer hosts: Stephen Smith in San Francisco, Peter Colohan and Fenton Blake in Silver Spring, and Matthew Egan and Sookyoung Lee in New York City.

Thank you to all who gathered to celebrate the new year with Walden community!

Apply for Walden 2026

The spring application deadline is Monday, March 30

Applications for The Walden School’s 2026 summer programs are open! The spring deadline to apply to the Young Musicians Program (YMP) and Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR) is Monday, March 30.

We encourage you to share the news with your friends, family, colleagues, students, and teachers.

Creative Musicians Retreat
June 13–21, 2026
Dublin School, Dublin, New Hampshire
for musicians ages 18–98

Young Musicians Program
June 27–August 2, 2026
Dublin School, Dublin, New Hampshire
for pre-college musicians, ages 9–18

Application materials for both programs are available on our website.

Write to us at applicants@waldenschool.org with any questions.

Apply to Walden 2026!

Young Musicians Program (YMP) Information Sessions

Do you know a student who writes songs or arranges music? Or a young improviser who wants to strengthen their musicianship and meet like-minded peers? Or a music teacher who might like to learn about Walden’s unique curriculum?

Join us at one of our online interactive information sessions, featuring presentations and Q&A with Walden’s Executive Director, Seth Brenzel, alongside YMP leadership, faculty, staff, and students.

All YMP Info Sessions are held on Zoom. Learn more and register for one of the info sessions below:

Wednesday, March 19
Wednesday, March 25

These events are open to prospective students, music teachers, and anyone else who would like to learn about Walden’s flagship program for musicians ages 9 to 18.

Walden is Hiring!

Walden is hiring for 2026 summer positions at our Young Musicians Program (YMP) and Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR) in Dublin, New Hampshire. We are seeking new teammates to join our creative community, and we hope that you might help spread the word about these opportunities to your friends and colleagues.

The positions currently open are:

Staff Member and Staff Lifeguard – Young Musicians Program (YMP)
Faculty Member – Young Musicians Program (YMP)
Electronic Music Faculty – Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR)
Choral Director – Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR)

Please contact us with any questions or inquiries. All positions are open until filled.

Opportunities for Composers

Did you know that Walden hosts a continually updated webpage of competitions, awards, and calls for scores? Please let us know of additional opportunities that may be of interest to the Walden community.

Here is one featured opportunity with upcoming deadlines:

Chicago a cappella HerVoice Competition and Mentorship Program

Chicago a cappella and the Santa Fe Desert Chorale seek submissions for HerVoice, a competition and mentorship program for women composers. Up to six winners will be selected to receive mentorship from a committee including composers Stacy Garrop (a Walden alum and former faculty member) and Chen Yi (a past Composer-in-Residence at Walden and a member of Walden’s Advisory Council), a workshop rehearsal, and a premiere performance of their work. In addition, all composers who submit will be invited to participate in a virtual meeting with Stacy Garrop about navigating a career as a female composer. Submissions should be 3-5 minutes in length and scored for up to 10 voices (SSSAATTBBB). Apply by March 15.

Community News

Freya Waley-Cohen celebrates three world premieres

This spring, Young Musicians Program (YMP) alum Freya Waley-Cohen has announced three world premieres of her works. On February 20, her new string received its premiere performance at Wigmore Hall in London. Titled Dances, Hymns and Songs for Friendship, the work was commissioned by Sacconi Quartet to celebrate their 25th anniversary. In a review of the concert, The Guardian described her piece as “a striking new work—and one that fellow ensembles should eagerly consider adding to their repertoire.” In April, the principals of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields will perform Waley-Cohen’s new wind quintet, titled Small Plinths, on tour in the United States. Among the performances of this work are April 17 at the University of Chicago and April 16 at Harris Hall in Memphis, TN—the same venue where Walden’s Memphis Composers Institute took place in February. On June 20, Waley-Cohen’s Violin Concerto No. 1 will be premiered at the Aldeburgh Festival, played by Tamsin Waley-Cohen, Freya’s sister and a past Walden visiting artist.

Walden alum named in Yamaha's 40 under 40 music educators 

Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR) alum Matt Siffert was recently named one of the 2026 Yamaha 40 music educators under 40, in recognition of his work with the Musical Mentors Collective (MMC), bringing music education and mentorship to under-resourced students across the U.S. through homeless shelters, supportive housing networks and low-income Title I schools. Yamaha’s profile of Matt’s work highlights several of his contributions to MMC’s programming: shifting their programs from short-term to year-long, consistent mentorship; launching MMC’s Summer Sounds program to close education gaps during the summer months; and spearheading their Community Events program, providing free tickets to concerts and dress rehearsals for students in need. Congratulations, Matt!

Walden artist performs at Berkeley Piano Club

On February 28, the Earheart Trio presented a performance at the Berkeley Piano Club, featuring music by Shostakovich and Haydn and the premiere of a new work by Ben Dorfan. The Earheart Trio is composed of pianist Kumiko Uyeda, cellist Mary Artmann, and violinist Kate Stenberg, a past visiting artist at Walden.

Del Sol Quartet premieres music of Walden faculty member

On February 22, the Del Sol Quartet premiered a new piece by Osnat Netzer, an alum of Walden’s Teacher Training Institute (TTI), past faculty member at YMP, and current faculty member at CMR. The new work for string quartet and live electronics, Galim Levanim, was presented at Constellation Chicago on a program alongside works by Chinary Ung, Meilina Tsui, Theresa Wong, and Vivian Fung. This performance comes at the culmination of the quartet’s Midwest tour, which includes residencies at the University of Iowa and Augustana College.

Alan Chan Jazz Orchestra performs at The Baked Potato

On February 22, TTI alum and former YMP faculty member Alan Chan performed at the historic Baked Potato jazz club in Los Angeles. Alongside vocalists Ben Thomas and LC Powell and oudist Dmitri Mahlis, the 17-piece Alan Chan Jazz Orchestra presented a program celebrating the Year of the Horse. Founded by keyboardist Don Randi in 1970, the Baked Potato is the oldest continuously operating jazz club in Los Angeles.

Sam Pluta releases new album, performs with Walden visiting artists

On February 12, the Sam Pluta Big Band presented music by Sam Pluta, a YMP and CMR faculty member, at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music in New York City. The ensemble is comprised of the Wet Ink Ensemble, a past Walden ensemble-in-residence, alongside a cast of talented guest artists that includes two other past Walden visiting artists, Madison Greenstone and Peter Evans. The hour-long immersive musical experience celebrated the release of Pluta’s new album, Slays Well with Others, on Carrier Records. Congratulations, Sam!

Composer Portraits concert series features works of Lisa Bielawa

On February 26, past CMR composer-in-residence Lisa Bielawa was featured in the Composer Portraits concert series at the Miller Theatre of Columbia University. The program included the world premiere of Balloon Variations, a new work commissioned by the Miller Theatre for the event and performed by the Contemporaneous ensemble. Also on the program were two vocal works performed by the composer.

YMP alum leads musical theatre showcase at Princeton

On February 21, The Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton University presented How to Be Not Alone, a

concert of original and Broadway songs performed by the Princeton Playhouse Ensembles, led by Solon Snider Sway, a YMP alum and current Walden board member. The concert highlighted musical theater storytelling, performance, composition, arranging, direction, and choreography while featuring the work of current Princeton students and alumni. Audiences heard selections from A Little Night Music, Godspell, Evening Primrose, Kimberly Akimbo, In the Heights, Maybe Happy Ending, Next to Normal, Rent, and Waitress alongside new works by student composers and arrangers.

Loretta Notareschi honored by Regis College

Dr. Loretta Notareschi, an alum of YMP and TTI and a longtime faculty member at both YMP and CMR, was awarded the 2025 Faculty Lecturer of the Year award by Regis College at Regis University, where she is Professor of Music. Each year, one faculty member is chosen to give a talk on a subject of their choosing to an audience of the other faculty in Regis College, students, the dean, the provost, the president, and guests. On February 20, Loretta gave a lecture with the Walden Musicianship-inspired title, “Sound in Time: What and Why Is Music?” In addition to the lecture, former Walden guest artist Steve Beck, piano, and Laura Sacks, viola, premiered Loretta’s new piece, the Quintal Sonata. Congratulations, Loretta!

LA Philharmonic performs work of Walden alum

On March 7, the Los Angeles Philharmonic premiered a new work by CMR and TTI alum Nicolás Lell Benavides in a concert inspired by the Great Wall of Los Angeles mural by Judy Baca. Benavides describes his piece, titled ¡AGUAS!, as “a sometimes beautiful, sometimes dissonant, fast-paced, mambo-inspired work that implores us to keep our wits about us as we navigate a world full of hazards, both big and small.” The work examines the treatment of Mexican Americans in LA during the Zoot Suit riots in the 1940s, and is particularly inspired by the mural panel pictured here. In addition to ¡AGUAS!, the concert featured music celebrating historically significant Angelenos by composers Juhi Bansal, Viet Cuong, Estevan Olmos, Xavier Muzik, and Nina Shekhar, all performed alongside an original film by director Alejandro G. Iñárritu. Congratulations, Nicolás!

We Want To Hear From You!

If you have a recent or upcoming premiere or concert, publication, award, new job, or a celebratory life event, please share your news, which needn’t be music-related (although we love your music-related news to be sure!). Email your news to alumni@waldenschool.org.

Stay in Touch

You can like The Walden School page on Facebook and join The Walden School private group to hear about events and opportunities throughout the year. You can also find us on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, bandcamp, and at waldenschool.org.

by Noah Mlotek

eNews: Internetzo – January 2026

Message from Seth Brenzel,
Executive Director

Dear Walden friends,

I hope you had a joyful holiday season and a happy new year, and that you are staying warm and safe amid the winter weather that is affecting so many. With this edition of InterNetzo, I am pleased to share lots of exciting Walden news, which I hope will bring some brightness to your week.

Applications for Walden’s 2026 programs are open! Our winter-round application deadline is Monday, February 2. Both our Young Musicians Program (YMP) and our Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR) will be held on the beautiful Dublin School campus in Dublin, New Hampshire.

If you know a creative musician, ages 9 to 99, I hope you will pass along information about Walden to them. And if you yourself might want to apply to be part of Walden Summer 2026, we will look forward to receiving your application for what promises to be another summer of creativity, community, music, and mentorship!

Read on for more information about several upcoming Walden events:

• Saturday, January 31: A Walden holiday party in New York City
• February 1–4: The 2026 Memphis Composers Institute
• Saturday, March 14: A Walden celebration and fundraiser in Los Angeles

Below, we share interviews with Walden alums Caroline Mallonee and Dede Ondishko, two of the composers whose works will be featured at the Memphis Composers Institute. Thanks for reading, and I hope to see you at an upcoming Walden event—or next summer in Dublin, New Hampshire!

Sincerely,

Seth Brenzel
Executive Director
(415) 587-8157

2026 Memphis Composers Institute (MCI)

Walden presents new music in Memphis

The Walden School continues its collaboration with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and the University of Memphis through the 2026 Memphis Composers Institute, supporting the artistic development of emerging orchestral composers selected through an international call for scores.

The 2026 Institute will take place February 1–4, 2026. It will offer an exciting series of open rehearsals, panel discussions, a reception with musicians, and community engagement events, including a series of workshops, masterclasses, and an orchestral reading session with Memphis Youth Symphony Program students.

At the culminating public concert on Wednesday, February 4, the three selected scores will be premiered alongside a new orchestral work by Walden alum and faculty member Caroline Mallonee.

The three selected composers are:

Dede Ondishko, Singing Strength
Fulya Kapucugil, Leaving the Nest
Ethan Soledad, Cages of Jade

Learn more about the 2026 Memphis Composers Institute here.

Concert Information
Memphis Composers Institute Concert
Wednesday, February 4, 2026 | 7:30 PM
University of Memphis, Harris Hall
BUY TICKETS
$20 General Admission / $5 Youth / Pay What You Can ($5+)

In connection with the 2026 Memphis Composers Institute, we are pleased to highlight two composers whose music will be premiered on the February 4 concert: Caroline Mallonee and Dede Ondishko.

In the Spotlight: Caroline Mallonee

Caroline (Carrie) Mallonee is well known to the Walden community. An alum of both the Young Musicians Program (YMP) and the Teacher Training Institute (TTI), Carrie has served on faculty and staff for many summers at YMP and at Walden’s Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR), a program that she has directed since it was launched in 2011.

Tell us about the new work that you wrote for the Memphis Composers Institute.

It is an orchestration of a work that I originally wrote in 2017 called Curtains of Light. When I wrote the piece, it was for a mixed ensemble. I always thought I should arrange it for orchestra because there are so many different colors in the piece.

When we went to Memphis last year and had this amazing week at the first Memphis Composers Institute, D. J. Sparr [artistic coordinator of the MCI] floated the idea that maybe in 2026 they could do a piece of mine. I was thrilled, because I had this piece that was looking for a place.

It’s about the Northern Lights. The original piece was commissioned by family friends, Carol and Jim Oleson, who took a trip to see the Northern Lights to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. They both sent me written impressions and pictures that they had taken that night. I took their words and their images and turned them into this piece.

Read the Full Interview with Caroline Mallonee

In the Spotlight: Dede Ondishko

Denise (Dede) Ondishko has been involved with Walden since the 1970s, first as a student, then as a staff, faculty, and board member. Based in Cathedral City, California, Dede is a composer, pianist, violinist, jam leader, and all-around creative force.

Tell us about the new work you’ve written, Singing Strength.

In 2011, when I was living in Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, the birds would wake me up in the morning and the frogs would keep me awake at night. At first, I found them to be annoying, and then, living among them for four years, I found them more interesting and decided to get to know them more. I received a grant of $10,000 from the Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina, which allowed me to buy recording equipment and go out into the field to record the birds.

Together with my field partner, Beverly Gaddy, I went on outings all around Hilton Head Island and throughout the coastal regions of South Carolina documenting birds, insects, and frogs. One night we were out in a graveyard, where we were told you could hear a certain owl at night. It was freezing cold, and we were sitting in my car waiting with the windows rolled down. We got locked in the nature preserve that night, and we didn’t even hear the owl! It takes a lot of sitting and waiting to capture some of these sounds.

Read the Full Interview with Dede Ondishko

Upcoming Fundraising Event

Join us in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 14!

Please save the date for a Walden celebration and fundraiser in Los Angeles! This reception and concert will feature the Los Angeles-based vocal octet Exilio Ensemble, a group that is dedicated to highlighting underrepresented and emerging composers through performances and educational outreach.

This evening of music, community, and refreshments will celebrate Walden’s mission of inspiring artistic expression and personal growth through experiential music programs. Contributions to The Walden School Annual Fund will underwrite critical student scholarships and inspiring artist residencies at Walden’s programs this coming summer.

You are welcome to RSVP or contact us with any questions by emailing donors@waldenschool.org or calling (415) 587-8157.

Walden Holiday Parties

Walden School and Junior Conservatory Camp (JCC) community members have been gathering for informal potlucks in cities throughout the country this winter season. We had events in San Francisco and in Silver Spring, Maryland, as well as a virtual reunion for alumni of the Junior Conservatory Camp (JCC), Walden’s predecessor program. There is one more potluck event scheduled for tomorrow:

New York City
Saturday, January 31, from 3 to 5 pm

These Walden Holiday Parties are open to Walden and JCC alumni, faculty, staff, Board members, guest artists, and donors, along with their families and friends. These are family-friendly, potluck-style events held at private homes. When you RSVP, please let us know what you would like to bring, and we will send you the address.

RSVP to events@waldenschool.org or by calling (415) 587-8157.

RSVP for the Walden Holiday Party this Saturday!

Above: A Walden holiday party in San Francisco, December 21, 2025

Apply for Walden 2026

The winter application deadline is Monday, February 2.

Applications for The Walden School’s 2026 summer programs are open! The winter-round deadline to apply to the Young Musicians Program (YMP) and Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR) is this Monday, February 2.

We encourage you to share the news with your friends, family, colleagues, students, and teachers.

Creative Musicians Retreat
June 13–21, 2026
Dublin School, Dublin, New Hampshire
for musicians ages 18–98

Young Musicians Program
June 27–August 2, 2026
Dublin School, Dublin, New Hampshire
for pre-college musicians, ages 9–18

Application materials for both programs are available on our website.

Write to us at applicants@waldenschool.org with any questions.

Apply to Walden 2026!

Young Musicians Program (YMP) Information Sessions

Do you know a student who writes songs or arranges music? Or a young improviser who wants to strengthen their musicianship and meet like-minded peers? Or a music teacher who might like to learn about Walden’s unique curriculum?

Join us at one of our online interactive information sessions, featuring presentations and Q&A with Walden’s Executive Director, Seth Brenzel, alongside YMP leadership, faculty, staff, and students.

All YMP Info Sessions are held on Zoom. Learn more and register for one of the info sessions below:

Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Wednesday, March 11
Wednesday, March 25

These events are open to prospective students, music teachers, and anyone else who would like to learn about Walden’s flagship program for musicians ages 9 to 18.

Walden is Hiring!

Walden is hiring for 2026 summer positions at our Young Musicians Program (YMP) and Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR) in Dublin, New Hampshire. We are seeking new teammates to join our creative community, and we hope that you might help spread the word about these opportunities to your friends and colleagues.

The positions currently open are:

Staff Member and Staff Lifeguard – Young Musicians Program (YMP)
Faculty Member – Young Musicians Program (YMP)
Electronic Music Faculty – Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR)
Choral Director – Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR)

Please contact us with any questions or inquiries. All positions are open until filled.

Opportunities for Composers

Did you know that Walden hosts a continually updated  webpage of competitions, awards, and calls for scores? Please let us know of additional opportunities that may be of interest to the Walden community.

Here are a few featured opportunities with upcoming deadlines:

Ithaca College Wohlhueter Jazz Ensemble Composition Contest

The Ithaca College Jazz Ensemble announces a call for new pieces for big band with a part for solo trumpet (with the option to add electronics). The IC Jazz Ensemble plans to perform the winning piece in concert with Ingrid Jensen as guest trumpet soloist on April 25, 2026, in Ford Hall at the Whalen Center for Music. The contest prize for the winning composer is $1,500. There is an entry fee of $25. Apply by February 27.

Chinese Instrumental Music Symposium (CIM-S) Call for Scores

CIM-S and Spark Ensemble invite submissions of new pieces for mixed contemporary Chinese instrumental music ensemble: erhu, soprano chromatic sheng, zhongruan, and optional piano or conductor. Selected composers will attend CIM-S in Toronto in August 2026, where they will receive collaborative feedback from Spark Ensemble and a premiere performance. Apply by February 28.

Chicago a cappella HerVoice Competition and Mentorship Program

Chicago a cappella and the Santa Fe Desert Chorale seek submissions for HerVoice, a competition and mentorship program for women composers. Up to six winners will be selected to receive mentorship from a committee including composers Stacy Garrop (a Walden alum and former faculty member) and Chen Yi (a past Composer-in-Residence at Walden and a member of Walden’s Advisory Council), a workshop rehearsal, and a premiere performance of their work. In addition, all composers who submit will be invited to participate in a virtual meeting with Stacy Garrop about navigating a career as a female composer. Submissions should be 3-5 minutes in length and scored for up to 10 voices (SSSAATTBBB). Apply by March 15.

Community News

Ben Richardson heads to Winter Olympics

Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR) alum Ben Richardson is heading to the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, Italy, as part of the USA Curling team. The first USA Curling events will take place on Thursday, February 5. Richardson has been competing in curling since his youth, including winning a silver medal with Team USA at the 2017 world junior curling championships. Richardson is an accomplished cellist and a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music. He can be found on social media under the handle @curlingcelloguy. Congratulations and good luck, Ben!

Reiny Rolock weds

We extend heartfelt congratulations to Young Musicians Program (YMP) alum Reiny Rolock, who was married to Serena Strecker at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Brooklyn on January 17. Reiny and Serena have adopted new names: Serena Strecker Rolock and Reiny Strecker Rolock. Fellow YMP alum George Landau-Pincus was part of the wedding party.

Reiny received his Ph.D in music composition last May from Stony Brook University. His dissertation, “A Catalog of Misreadings, Distortions, Palimpsests, and Reconstructions,” treats fragments of medieval music notation as contemporary graphic notation for an electroacoustic quartet. He is currently an adjunct professor of music technology at Long Island University in Brooklyn.

Congratulations, Reiny and Serena!

In Memoriam

We are sad to share the news that Linda Blondel (née Wilder), an alum of the Junior Conservatory Camp (JCC) and Walden’s Teacher Training Institute (TTI), passed away on October 12, 2025.

Linda studied music and dance at Peabody Preparatory in Baltimore, at Bennington College in Vermont, and in New York City with the Merce Cunningham Dance Company. She taught dance in Greece and was a co-founder of the Parisian dance company SITU. Linda performed throughout her life as a modern dancer, for many years as a member of the Miki Liszt Dance Company. A gifted classical pianist and teacher, Linda had a long musical career in Charlottesville, Virginia. She loved chamber music and performed regularly with many local musicians over the years. Linda also maintained a private piano teaching studio and was a longtime member of the Wednesday Music Club. She played piano with the Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra, and at Cove Presbyterian Church for 43 years.

Linda is survived by her husband Pierre, her son Emile (a pianist and past Walden visiting artist), her son Dmitri and daughter-in-law Jennifer Luff, and her granddaughter River. Our condolences go out to Linda’s family, friends, and loved ones.

We Want To Hear From You!

If you have a recent or upcoming premiere or concert, publication, award, new job, or a celebratory life event, please share your news, which needn’t be music-related (although we love your music-related news to be sure!). Email your news to alumni@waldenschool.org.

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by Noah Mlotek