Reflections on the 2025 Creative Musicians Retreat
Reflections on the 2025 Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR)
From Caroline Mallonee, Director of CMR
The 2025 Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR) was a blast! This summer marked CMR’s 15th season, and this year we welcomed 44 participants between the ages of 19 and 83, hailing from 24 states and Washington, DC. We have a dedicated cadre of CMR alumni who return year after year. This year, 13 of our alumni came; some of them have come to Walden more than 10 times!
The Composer-in-Residence always brings their unique music-making and helps set the tone of the festival. This year, Paula Matthusen had her music performed on the opening concert, gave an illuminating talk on her music (including her projects in unique spaces like caves and aquifers), and coached a group of 17 participants for a performance of her Umbrella Etudes on Thursday’s Performers Night. They recorded themselves in different spaces—under an umbrella, under an overhang in the rain—and Paula then mixed these into a broadcast. During the immersive performance, performers and audience members took umbrellas and wandered in the quad, holding radios that played the broadcast. It was a magical experience—one that was both collective and individual, one that was happening in real time but that was about memory, too.
Performers Night also included an antiphonal performance by four trumpets of a Gabrieli canzone, eight pianists sharing a performance of CMR faculty member (and Walden alumna) Loretta Notareschi’s Shape Preludes, and a special, large-group performance of In C, in celebration of Terry Riley’s 90th birthday.
There were amazing performances by participants, faculty, and our Artists-in-Residence (including 35 world premieres on Composers Forums). And the magic in the classroom created by our veteran faculty continues the long tradition of innovative pedagogy that Walden is known for.
Per Walden tradition, a group hiked Mount Monadnock on a sunny Saturday, eating lunch and singing at the top of the mountain. We concluded the week with an open mic where participants showed off even more sides of their musical personalities, and we ended the evening dancing together.
An invitation to all: join us next year! Tell the creative musicians you know! You’re never too old to go to Walden!
Sincerely,
Caroline Mallonee
Director, The Walden School Creative Musicians Retreat
This reflection was originally published as part of the September 2025 InterNetzo.
eNews: Internetzo – September 2025
Message from Seth Brenzel,
Executive Director
Dear Walden friends,
It is hard to believe that another magical summer at Walden has come and gone. Our 53rd season of transformative music programs featured inspiring classes, creative collaborations, and intense community spirit. Almost 150 new compositions by Walden students took flight across 11 Composers Forums, and world-class visiting artists delighted our audiences with dynamic and thoughtfully curated performances.
Walden’s 2025 fiscal year ends on Tuesday, September 30, and our goal of raising $410,000 for Walden’s Annual Fund is within reach. I am deeply grateful to all of our donors, whose tremendous generosity makes possible all of what we do each season. Thank you, donors!
In this edition of InterNetzo, you’ll find:
- Reflections from Caroline Mallonee on this summer’s Creative Musicians Retreat;
- An invitation to our celebration in San Francisco on Sunday, September 28;
- Highlights from our summer fundraising events;
- Information about Walden’s fiscal year-end fundraising drive;
- Walden in the news;
- A job opening in Walden’s administrative office;
- An opportunity for composers;
- Transitions on Walden’s Board of Directors;
- And lots of exciting updates from the Walden community.
Please enjoy reading it, and I hope our paths will cross again soon!
Sincerely,
Seth Brenzel
Executive Director
(603) 563-8212
Reflections on the 2025 Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR)
From Caroline Mallonee, Director of CMR
The 2025 Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR) was a blast! This summer marked CMR’s 15th season, and this year we welcomed 44 participants between the ages of 19 and 83, hailing from 24 states and Washington, DC. We have a dedicated cadre of CMR alumni who return year after year. This year, 13 of our alumni came; some of them have come to Walden more than 10 times!
The Composer-in-Residence always brings their unique music-making and helps set the tone of the festival. This year, Paula Matthusen had her music performed on the opening concert, gave an illuminating talk on her music (including her projects in unique spaces like caves and aquifers), and coached a group of 17 participants for a performance of her Umbrella Etudes on Thursday’s Performers Night. They recorded themselves in different spaces—under an umbrella, under an overhang in the rain—and Paula then mixed these into a broadcast. During the immersive performance, performers and audience members took umbrellas and wandered in the quad, holding radios that played the broadcast. It was a magical experience—one that was both collective and individual, one that was happening in real time but that was about memory, too.
Performers Night also included an antiphonal performance by four trumpets of a Gabrieli canzone, eight pianists sharing a performance of CMR faculty member (and Walden alumna) Loretta Notareschi’s Shape Preludes, and a special, large-group performance of In C, in celebration of Terry Riley’s 90th birthday.
There were amazing performances by participants, faculty, and our Artists-in-Residence (including 35 world premieres on Composers Forums). And the magic in the classroom created by our veteran faculty continues the long tradition of innovative pedagogy that Walden is known for.
Per Walden tradition, a group hiked Mount Monadnock on a sunny Saturday, eating lunch and singing at the top of the mountain. We concluded the week with an open mic where participants showed off even more sides of their musical personalities, and we ended the evening dancing together.
An invitation to all: join us next year! Tell the creative musicians you know! You’re never too old to go to Walden!
Sincerely,
Caroline Mallonee
Director, The Walden School Creative Musicians Retreat
Upcoming Fundraising Event: September 28
A Walden celebration and fundraiser in San Francisco on Sunday, September 28, from 3 to 5 pm
A Walden celebration and fundraiser in San Francisco on Sunday, Featuring pianist Pedja Mužijević
Please join us to celebrate a successful summer of transformative music programs at The Walden School! This concert and reception will celebrate Walden’s mission of inspiring artistic expression and personal growth through experiential music programs. Contributions to The Walden School Annual Fund underwrite critical student scholarships and inspiring artist residencies at Walden.
The event will feature a performance by the renowned pianist Pedja Mužijević, a former Walden faculty member who serves as artistic administrator of the Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York and artistic advisor at Tippet Rise Art Center in Montana. Pedja’s musical program will include selections ranging from C.P.E. Bach and Robert Schumann to John Cage and Phillip Glass, as well as a composition penned this summer by a student at Walden’s Young Musicians Program.
For details or to RSVP, contact Noah Mlotek, Walden’s Director of Development and Alumni Relations, by email or calling (415) 587-8157.
Support Walden Today
Summer Fundraising Events
July 28: Walden Giving Day
On the first day of Festival Week at Walden’s Young Musicians Program (YMP), we shared live updates with Walden friends and supporters near and far as part of a one-day online fundraiser. Videos included classes and choral rehearsals, interviews with students and members of The Walden School Players, a rehearsal of a student composition, and our first 2025 Festival Week Composers Forum.
The video updates will remain available on our YouTube channel as well as Instagram and Facebook. Make sure to follow Walden on social media to keep up with all the latest news from Walden. Below, we share a bonus video with previously unreleased footage from Giving Day, chronicling the journey of YMP student Henry’s composition from rehearsal to premiere!
Our Giving Day goal was to raise $5,300 in honor of Walden’s 53rd summer. With your support, we raised $11,650, including $2,000 in matching funds that were unlocked by your generosity. Thank you to the more than 50 individuals and households who supported Walden on Giving Day, and a special thanks to those who made contributions in honor or memory of others.
August 2, A Celebration and Fundraiser in New Hampshire
August 2, A Celebration and Fundraiser in New HampshireThank you to all who joined us for a Walden celebration and fundraiser in Dublin and Harrisville, New Hampshire, on Saturday, August 2!
In Dublin School’s Louise Shonk Kelly Recital Hall, we enjoyed a beautiful performance by flutist Laura Cocks and violinist Erica Dicker, two longstanding members of The Walden School Players. The celebration continued with a beautiful indoor/outdoor reception in nearby Harrisville, New Hampshire, where Ellen and Ed Bernard opened up their barn, and guests enjoyed delicious bites and drinks. Thank you, Ellen and Ed!
Robin Kenney, a former member of Walden’s Board of Directors, spoke about the transformative power of Walden’s creative music education programs. Watch some highlights in the video below:
We are so grateful to our host committee and to all of our event donors for their generosity. With your help, we raised a total of $18,450. Thank you!
Support Walden Today
Thank you to our New Hampshire event host committee: Ellen and Ed Bernard, David Bivins and Kristen Davis, Seth Brenzel and Malcolm Gaines, Leah Kenney Butler and Anthony Butler, Jamie Hamilton, Anne and Thom Haxo, Teresa and Peter Imhoff, Robin and Leslie Kenney, Fred and Jean Leventhal, Anna Lumelsky and Joshua Goodman, Noah Mlotek, Nancy Nickerson and Steve Frietch, and Sarah Kirkland Snider and Steven Mackey
Fiscal Year-End Fundraising Drive
Help Walden reach our Annual Fund goal by September 30!
Help Walden reach our Annual Fund goal by As The Walden School’s fiscal year comes to an end, we are deeply grateful to the hundreds of donors who have supported our programs throughout our 53rd season of transformative music programs.
During Walden’s 2025 fiscal year, 325 individuals, families, foundations, and corporations have collectively contributed $363,000 to Walden’s Annual Fund—and counting!
There are just two weeks left to reach our goal of raising $410,000 by Tuesday, September 30. If you haven’t yet given to Walden during the past year (or even if you have!), there’s still time to help us finish the 2025 season on a high note.
Support Walden Today
To ensure that your gift will count toward Walden’s 2025 fiscal year, gifts must be postmarked on or before Tuesday, September 30, or made online prior to 11:59 pm Eastern Time on Tuesday, September 30.
Thank you for your invaluable support!
Walden in the News
This summer, Walden was featured in the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript, the local newspaper for Walden’s summer home in the Monadnock Region of New Hampshire!
The article by David Allen, entitled “New Sounds This Summer: Youths compose music as part of Young Musicians Program,” ran on the front page of the July 24 Arts & Entertainment section. It reported on a Composers Forum at Walden’s Young Musicians Program (YMP) and featured quotes from Executive Director Seth Brenzel and from several YMP students about their Walden experiences.
“This doesn’t just help us musically,” Amelie said. “It teaches us to unlock our creativity, and to communicate effectively with the people playing our work.” Jahvin spoke of coping with last-minute changes in instruments, and Oscar said that collaborating, working with deadlines, and dealing with sudden curve balls are great skills acquired at Walden even if one doesn’t pursue a musical career. “These are skills you have to have in any job,” he said.
Thank you to the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript for the feature, which is available on their website.
Walden is Hiring
Join our year-round administrative team in San Francisco.
Join our year-round administrative team in San Francisco.Walden is hiring for a Part-Time Development Assistant to join our dynamic, fun, and collegial San Francisco-based administrative team. The Development Assistant will play a crucial role in supporting and enhancing Walden’s fundraising efforts. This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to Walden’s growth and sustainability while gaining valuable experience in the field of nonprofit development.
Please help us spread the word about this exciting opportunity! View the full job description here.
Please contact us with any questions and inquiries.
Photo: The Walden School administrative office in San Francisco
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 an upcoming deadline:
Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra Call for Scores
The Los Angeles–based chamber orchestra has announced a call for scores, seeking solo instrument, chamber music, and orchestral works to be performed in the 2026–27 season. Selected composers will receive roundtrip air travel to Los Angeles, housing, six rehearsals, multiple performances, and a professional recording. Composers of any age, residing in any country are eligible to apply. Apply by September 30th.
Transitions on Walden's Board of Directors
The Walden School’s Board of Directors held its annual summer meeting on July 18 and 19, during the Young Musicians Program (YMP). This dedicated group of volunteers from throughout the United States contributes countless hours of service all year round, and the summer meeting offers a chance to connect in person while experiencing the Walden magic firsthand. Board members joined the YMP community for class visits, a barbecue dinner, and a concert by the International Contemporary Ensemble. The weekend was capped off by a celebratory dinner graciously hosted by Teresa and Peter Imhoff at their home in Dublin, New Hampshire.
This year’s meeting also marked several changes in the Board’s composition and leadership.
Board Chair changes hands
Peter Colohan stepped down after three years as Chair of Walden’s Board of Directors and will continue his service as Vice-Chair.
Peter often cites Walden’s vision of “a world in which people engage with one another creatively, collaboratively, and with respect,” and his board service embodies that spirit. We are deeply grateful for his warm and insightful leadership of our Walden’s board. An alumnus of the Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR), Peter works at the intersection of environmental science, social science, and public policy at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, and he enriched the board with his experience in facilitating productive group decision-making.
We are excited to welcome Danielle Schindler Cheung as the new Chair of the Board.
An alumna of Walden’s Young Musicians Program (YMP), as well as a former staff and faculty member, Danielle has been a valued member of the Board for the past six years. She is also the parent of a daughter who has attended YMP for two summers. An emergency room physician with West Sound Emergency Physicians in the Seattle area, Danielle brings a deep love for Walden, as well as extensive board leadership experience, having served as Vice-Chair and co-chair of the board’s Development Committee.
New Board officers
The officers of Walden’s Board of Directors for 2025–26 are as follows:
Danielle Schindler Cheung, Chair
Peter Colohan, Vice-Chair
Jennifer Weidman, Vice-Chair
David Roberts, Secretary
Stephen Smith, Treasurer
New Board member
We are pleased to welcome 
as the newest member of Walden’s Board of Directors. A composer and conductor from Lexington, Massachusetts, John fell in love with Walden when first attending CMR in 2018, and he has now attended the program for six summers. In addition to his passion for music, he brings extensive business expertise. John was co-founder, chief financial officer, and director of a fusion technology company that grew into a publicly traded global enterprise, and he has over four decades of board-level experience with both for-profit and nonprofit organizations.
Learn more about John and all of Walden’s board members on our website.
Departing Board members
Walden is profoundly grateful to Rita Mitra and Steve Messner, whose distinguished service on the board concluded this year. Rita served for 11 years, including five as Chair, and first came to Walden as the parent of a YMP alumna. Her wise and generous presence will be missed on the board. Steve served for 12 years, most recently as Treasurer, sharing his financial expertise and good humor. He is a CMR alumnus who has attended the program almost every year since its inception in 2011. Thank you, Rita and Steve!
Community News
Serge Koussevitsky Music Foundation commissions Walden composers
The Library of Congress has announced this year’s Serge Koussevitzky Music Foundation commissions, selecting eight composers and the co-sponsoring ensembles that will perform the world premiere of each commissioned work. Past Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR) Composer-in-Residence Lisa Bielawa will write her second violin concerto for the Louisville Orchestra, and Klaus Lang will write a new work for Yarn/Wire, a past ensemble-in-residence for Walden’s Faculty Commissioning Project at the Young Musicians Program (YMP). Last but not least, former Walden School Players member Eric Wubbels (also co-director of past CMR ensemble-in-residence Wet Ink) will write a piece for JACK Quartet, which includes former Walden visiting artist Austin Wulliman. Congratulations to all involved!
Electric Earth Concerts features music by Elise Grant and Chen Yi
Electric Earth Concerts celebrated the 105th anniversary of women’s suffrage with a program of women composers on August 2 in Jaffrey, New Hampshire. The concert featured works by CMR alumna and Dublin, New Hampshire, resident Elise Grant, alongside fellow New Hampshire composers Amy Beach and Katie Semro. Chen Yi, a Walden Advisory Council member and past Composer-in-Residence, also had her piece Night Thoughts for piano trio performed.
Charlie Zhong releases Angels Under the Moonbeam
YMP alumnus Charlie Zhong has released his first album, a solo venture as singer, songwriter, and producer. Angels Under the Moonbeam is a collection of 8 songs available on Bandcamp and streaming platforms. Charlie also traveled to the Darmstadt Festival this summer with Walden friends Frazar Henry and Rye Ragone, and he is starting college at Yale University this fall. Congratulations, Charlie!
Updates from Brent Morden
Brent Morden has had an eventful year. The CMR alumnus conducted Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd at Bayway Arts Center with From Stage to Screen in April, and he was recognized as a New Yorker of the Week by NY1 for his work with Braver Angels bridging the political divide in New York. He also wrapped up his third year as director of Columbia University’s pep band, and he was featured in a commercial celebrating college spirit and bands. Check it out here!
New album of choral music featuring Theo Trevisan and Hannah Rice
The Los Angeles-based choral octet exilio has released its debut album, mending the light and dark, on the Tonsehen label. The ensemble's goal is to perform new music and music by composers from historically underrepresented groups. The octet’s members include YMP faculty member Theo Trevisan and CMR alumna Hannah Rice. The album features works by Veljo Tormis, Yiran Zhao, and Roxanna Panufnik. Los Angeles-area Walden fans, mark your calendars for a November 9 concert in Pasadena!
New music from Denver-based Walden composers
Several Walden composers had their music performed on Monday, September 15, at Regis University in Denver. The program, “Within Reach: New Music from Denver and Beyond,” featured works by Bob Bassett, Michael Frank, and Loretta Notareschi performed by the Wild Beautiful Orchestra and vocalists from vocalists from Central City Opera Touring and Teaching Artists. Bob and Michael are CMR alumni, and Loretta is a YMP alumna and longtime Walden faculty member. Loretta was interviewed by Denver radio station KGNU about the concert and her work.
Pictured above: Loretta Notareschi
David Conte celebrates release of two recordings
The music of David Conte, chair of composition at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and a past Composer-in-Residence at Walden, is featured on two recently released albums. Midsummer Light (Orchid Classics) includes Conte’s Sinfonietta for Classical Orchestra performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra alongside works by Samuel Barber and John Adams. Intimate Voices: Chamber Music of David Conte (Pentatone) presents a deeply personal journey through a decade of his chamber music, in celebration of the composer’s 70th birthday. Reviewing Intimate Voices, Gramophone UK praised Conte’s “poignant lyricism,” and in a nod to his teacher Nadia Boulanger, stated “one can easily imagine Conte being one of Boulanger’s model students.”
Lukáš Janata receives premiere at DeGaetano Composition Institute
YMP faculty member Lukáš Janata recently completed the DeGaetano Composition Institute, a six-month program for emerging composers to develop a new work for chamber orchestra under the guidance of Composer Mentor Augusta Read Thomas. The project culminated on July 29 in the world premiere of his work in song we conspire with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s at the DiMenna Center in New York City. Several members of the Walden community were in attendance, including board member Kate Valenta, former YMP faculty member Emi Ostrom, and CMR alumna Jamie Klenetsky Fay.
Zoe Yost wins SFCM concerto competition
Violist Zoe Yost, a CMR alumna, won the 2025 concerto competition at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM), where she studies viola and composition. On October 3, She will perform Bela Bartók’s Viola Concerto as part of the Concerto Competition Winners Concert with the SFCM Orchestra, conducted by Kedrick Armstrong, Music Director of the Oakland Symphony. Tickets are available here for the October 3 concert. Congratulations, Zoe!
Zachary Good releases debut solo album
Walden School Players member Zachary Good has released Lake Heritage, his debut solo record, on his label Add Dye Editions. The album consists of an hour-long, ten-movement composition for four soprano clarinets in B-flat. The work is dedicated to Zachary’s charismatic grandfather, Francis “Paco” Gracia, who passed away at the age of 102, one month before the premiere of Lake Heritage. Zachary plays all parts in the four-clarinet recording, which involve his specialty of contrapuntal close dyad multiphonics.
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.
Students at Walden's Young Musicians Program (YMP)
eNews: Internetzo – June 2025
Message from Seth Brenzel,
Executive Director
Dear Walden friends,
Walden 2025 is underway! A week ago, we said goodbye to our Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR) participants, who spent eight wonderful days at Walden composing and performing, sharing ideas and inspiration, and furthering their development as teachers, composers, and creative musicians. On Saturday, we welcomed our Young Musicians Program (YMP) students, who are just beginning their 5-week (or in a few cases, their 3-week) summer experience immersed in musical creativity and fun.
Both Walden programs are held on the beautiful Dublin School campus in Dublin, New Hampshire, where our award-winning Concert Series series continues this week. On Friday, July 4, in collaboration with the Monadnock Folklore Society, we present Walden’s much-loved and now-annual concert of New Orleans jazz by Aurora Nealand and friends. Read on for more information, and visit our website to see all of our upcoming concerts!
This edition of InterNetzo also features upcoming fundraising events, a roster of our amazingly talented faculty and staff teams, and some very cool community news—including a Walden alum at the top of the pop-music charts.
Summer is here! I wish you the best for a wonderful season, and I hope to see you soon at one of Walden’s many upcoming events!
Sincerely,
Seth Brenzel
Executive Director
(603) 563-8212
Upcoming Fundraising Events
Giving Day is Monday, July 28
Join us online for Giving Day! Throughout the first day of Festival Week, we’ll be sharing live video updates from our Young Musicians Program (YMP) as part of a special fundraiser on Walden’s Facebook page. Help us raise $5,300 in honor of Walden’s 53rd summer.
Livestream events will include meals, classes, interviews with students, faculty, and visiting artists, a rehearsal of a student composition, and the first 2025 YMP Festival Week Composers Forum.
This is a great time to make your first donation to Walden, or to increase or supplement your annual gift. Your donation of any amount helps ensure that Walden continues to offer an immersive creative community for many more seasons to come.
A New Hampshire celebration and fundraiser on Saturday, August 2
You’re invited to a fabulous Festival Week celebration to cap off Walden’s 2025 Young Musicians Program! Join us to celebrate the impact of Walden’s transformative music programs and to raise funds for student scholarships and inspiring artist residencies. Guests will enjoy a musical performance followed by a reception with refreshments and Walden community.
While there is no charge to attend, gifts to support Walden’s award-winning programs may be made online, by check payable to The Walden School at P.O. Box 432, Dublin, NH 03444, or in person at the event.
For details or to RSVP, contact Noah Mlotek, Walden’s Director of Development and Alumni Relations, by email or by calling (603) 563-8212.
Support Walden Today
Upcoming Concerts
Walden’s 2025 Concert Series continues with multiple events each week, all free of charge and open to the public. Additionally, most concerts are livestreamed on Walden’s YouTube channel. Visit our website for a complete listing of Walden’s 2025 Concert Series, including livestream links.
Tuesday, July 1, 7:30 pm Eastern
Young Musicians Program (YMP) Composers Forum I
In the Louise Shonk Kelly Recital Hall, Dublin School, Dublin, New Hampshire
During Composers Forums, YMP students present their improvisational or compositional works in a concert setting. These new works are performed by students, faculty, and visiting artists and then discussed with forum moderators and the audience.
Watch the livestream: YMP Composers Forum I
Friday, July 4, 7:30 pm Eastern
Aurora Nealand and Friends
On the Fountain Arts Building patio, Dublin School, Dublin, New Hampshire
Join us for a special evening of traditional New Orleans jazz at Walden! This annual outdoor performance, proudly co-presented with the Monadnock Folklore Society, is a beloved tradition of the Walden and Dublin communities. Aurora Nealand is a sound artist and multi-instrumentalist (saxophones, accordion, voice) based in New Orleans, Louisiana. An established bandleader, composer, performer and improviser, and a former Walden faculty member, Nealand has become a prominent force in the New Orleans music scene since she first arrived in 2004.
This outdoor concert will not be livestreamed.
Summer 2025 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 2025 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 mix 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 more about our faculty and staff at the Young Musicians Program (YMP) and Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR).
CMR Faculty and Staff
Seth Brenzel, Executive Director
Jeff Dutter, Staff
Renée Favand-See, Faculty
Francesca Hellerman, Staff
Caroline Mallonee, Faculty & CMR Program Director
Osnat Netzer, Faculty
Loretta Notareschi, Faculty
Sam Pluta, Faculty
Dahlia Riddington, Staff
Sarah Riskind, Faculty & Choral Director
Rodier, Technical Director
D. J. Sparr, Faculty
Sammi Jo Stone, Director of Operations
YMP Faculty and Staff
Zaki Andoh, Staff & Faculty
William Bolles-Beaven, Faculty
Seth Brenzel, Executive Director & YMP Program Director
Kittie Cooper, Teaching Mentor & Director of Electronic Music
Olga DiMeglio, Nurse
Shannon Dunning, Staff
Brian Fancher, Staff & Assistant Choral Director
Kari Francis, Faculty & Choral Director
Aidan Gold, Faculty
Cara Haxo, Faculty & Academic Dean
Francesca Hellerman, Faculty & Director of Composers Forums
Douglas Hertz, Teaching Mentor
Ashlin Hunter, Faculty
Lukáš Janata, Faculty & Academic Dean
Camara Kambon, Faculty
Veronica Kao, Faculty
Cadence Manuel, Staff
Tara McGovern, Staff
Loretta Notareschi, Teaching Mentor
Carlos Henrique Pereira, Faculty
Rodier, Technical Director
Luke Schroeder, Faculty & Staff
Sammi Jo Stone, Faculty & Director of Operations
Carolyn Tilton, Nurse
Theo Trevisan, Faculty
Nate Trier, Faculty & Academic Dean
Paul Zito, Staff & Faculty
Community News
Luka Kloser produces Addison Rae’s debut album
Young Musicians Program (YMP) alumna Luka Kloser co-wrote and produced all 12 tracks on Addison Rae’s new album Addison, including the hit single Diet Pepsi. As Rae told Rolling Stone in January, she met Luka and Elvira Anderfjärd—both songwriter/producer protégées of famed producer Max Martin—in early 2024, and the three wrote the hook of Diet Pepsi together that same day. Luka can be heard on keyboards and background vocals in all but two tracks, and she and Anderfjärd are the album’s sole producers. Addison was reviewed positively, described as “sensual and heady, propelled by private intensity, occasionally euphoric” by Pitchfork, and debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Walden composers honored by Morton Gould Young Composer awards
On June 18, the ASCAP Foundation announced the winners of the 2025 Morton Gould Young Composer Awards, which encourage young creators of concert music ages 13 to 30. Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR) alumnus Nathaniel Parks won a cash prize, while former YMP faculty member Lila Meretzky and YMP alumnus Max Chung received honorable mentions. The juried national competition is named in honor of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Morton Gould for his lifelong commitment to encouraging young creators. Congratulations, Nathaniel, Lila, and Max!
Lila Meretzky also has a new album out on Sawyer Records, entitled Simultaneous Contrast, featuring five of her recent compositions.
Kari Francis finishes doctorate and starts position at Bowdoin
Kari Francis, choral director and faculty member at YMP, recently received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame in choral conducting and was appointed Director of Choral Activities at Bowdoin College. In the photo at left, Carrie is hooded by her doctoral advisor, the composer John Liberatore. Kari’s work centers living and historically underrepresented voices through improvisation, contemporary a cappella styles, and learner-focused pedagogies, and she is a composer-in-residence at St. Matthew Catholic Church in Detroit, Michigan. Congratulations, Kari!
Juantio Becenti wins Thea Musgrave Performer-Composer Collaboration Grant
Composer Juantio Becenti, a YMP alumnus, received the inaugural Thea Musgrave Performer-Composer Collaboration Grant along with cellist Zachary Mowitz, who will commission a new work by Becenti for his ensemble Nodality Music. The grant, newly endowed by composer Thea Musgrave, distributes $10,000 annually to performers commissioning an emerging composer with the aim of supporting rich collaborations. Juantio’s piece will address the environmental injustices faced by his Diné (Navajo) community, with a special focus on land justice and clean-water access.
Hub New Music releases album
Hub New Music
, the ensemble-in-residence for Walden’s Faculty Commissioning Concert at YMP in 2021, released its sixth studio album, What If We’re Beautiful, on June 27. The ensemble’s longtime collaborator Daniel Thomas Davis’s piece shares a name with the album and features five movements, each framed as a musical gift bearing the initials of a member of the composer’s chosen family. The album, a “resounding celebration of queer joy,” is accompanied by a dance-film made by Four/Ten Media and Mark Morris Dance Group alums Aaron Loux and Brian Lawson.
Walden alumni featured in Oakland concert
The Glenview Classical Series will present a concert of New Music by Local Composers in Oakland, California, on Sunday, July 6, at 4 pm at St. Paul Lutheran Church. Two Walden alumni will have works performed: Emil Margolis, a YMP alumnus and former faculty member, and Junior Conservatory Camp (JCC) alumna Mary Fineman, featuring her first string quartet, January. All kids age 13 and under can attend for free!
Dasom Chung graduates and starts job in forensic musicology
Dasom Chung (at center in photo), a YMP alumna and former staff member, recently graduated from Berklee College of Music with a Professional Music Degree (magna cum laude) with minors in music technology and musical theater performance. At Berklee, she was involved in several Kpop-related projects and was a core member of Berklee’s very first Kpop idol group, Xchange. Dasom recently started a job as Head of Operations for Joe Bennett Music Services, a renowned forensic musicology team, where she works to analyze, research, and apply musical expertise to legal matters involving music. She also works as a lifeguard and stays involved in dancing, having recently performed at Fenway Park for a Boston Red Sox AAPI event, and is an active member of the Boston Kpop dance team MODU.
Congratulations, Dasom, and thanks for the udpates!
Walden artists perform at Oakland’s Garden of Memory
Several Walden-affiliated musicians performed on June 21 as part of Garden of Memory, a summer solstice concert featuring dozens of Bay Area experimental music performers and improvisers. The artists included CMR alumnus (and parent of a YMP alum) Joel St. Julien (pictured at right) and past Walden visiting artists Rachel Beetz and Pamela Z. Described by the San Francisco Chronicle as “a walk-through fun house of musical and visual splendor,” the concert is held annually in the beautiful Chapel of the Chimes, a mausoleum and historic landmark in Oakland, California.
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.
Students at Walden's Young Musicians Program (YMP)
Highlights from the 2025 Memphis Composers Institute
Highlights from the 2025 Memphis Composers Institute
The Memphis Composers Institute, a new collaboration between the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, The Walden School, and the University of Memphis, came to fruition over the weekend of February 7–9 in Memphis, Tennessee. Following an open call for scores, works by three selected composers—Evan Erickson, Sina Karachiani, and Soomin Kim—were given premiere performances by the Memphis Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Kyle Dickson, Madeleine Luce Moore Assistant Conductor Chair of the Memphis Symphony. The weekend also featured open rehearsals and panel discussions led by Walden faculty.
Walden alumnus and faculty member D. J. Sparr, who served as artistic coordinator for the initiative, composed a new viola concerto for the occasion, which was performed by his wife, viola virtuoso Kimberly Sparr, Associate Professor of Viola at Louisiana State University. Walden is proud to have offered this opportunity for emerging composers and thankful to D. J. for leading the project with enthusiasm and flair. Below, D. J. shares personal reflections on the experience of launching the Memphis Composers Institute.
Reflections from D. J. Sparr, Artistic Coordinator
How it all began
“737 comin’ out of the sky, Oh, won’t you take me down to Memphis on a midnight ride?” — from “Travelin’ Band” by Creedence Clearwater Revival
These lyrics capture how I felt when I received an invitation to perform with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra (MSO). Conductor Robert Moody called me in September 2023 to support injured guitarist Vasti Jackson, who was scheduled to perform the world premiere of Chris Brubeck’s Confluence: Double Concerto for Classical Guitar, Blues Guitar & Orchestra the very next week! As it turned out, we performed the piece together—Vasti delivered his amazing blues solos, I covered key sections, and Thomas Flippin played classical guitar.
This performance, following my March visit to play my electric guitar concerto Violet Bond, created real momentum with the MSO. After the concert, I went out for barbecue with Peter Abell, the orchestra’s executive director, to discuss working together again. I wanted to write a new work for the orchestra, and I had another idea: what if we mentored emerging composers and put on a concert of entirely new music? That meal planted the seed for what would become the Memphis Composers Institute.
When considering how to launch a program for emerging composers, I immediately thought of The Walden School. This project aligned with Walden’s mission of inspiring artistic expression and personal growth through experiential music programs, and its values of mentorship, teamwork, and collaboration. I called Seth Brenzel, Walden’s executive director, about involving Walden. Seth immediately embraced the idea, diving into his famously energized brainstorming, imagining all the ways this alliance could benefit Walden alumni, faculty, staff, and emerging composers alike.
I played matchmaker in a subsequent Zoom meeting, connecting Seth and Peter, who hit it off famously. Peter suggested partnering with the University of Memphis Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music, and soon composition professor Mahir Cetiz joined with tremendous enthusiasm.
Roles were quickly established: the University would provide the venue, the Symphony the musicians, and Walden would conduct the composer search. It was agreed that we would select one Walden alumnus, one University of Memphis alumnus, and one “at-large” composer through an international search. A committee was assembled, including Caroline Mallonee, Sky Macklay, and Michael Kropf from The Walden School; Mahir Cetiz and Kamran Ince from the University of Memphis; and Assistant Conductor Kyle Dickson and composer/ French Hornist Robert Patterson from the MSO.
In addition to the selected works, I would compose a new viola concerto for Kimberly, a renowned violist.
The selection process and preparation
Our call went out on July 18, 2024—with no age limit, application fee, or attendance cost—and it drew over 100 applications. Together with Walden’s invaluable director of operations, Sammi Stone, we carefully coordinated and reviewed each application to ensure compliance with our guidelines. The response was strong, with submissions reflecting a talented pool of composers.
Our selection process was thorough and deliberate, considering the artistic merit and programmatic fit of each piece. Ultimately, the winners chosen were Soomin Kim (star / ghost / mouth / sea), Evan Erickson (Oobleck), and Walden Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR) alumnus Sina Karachiani (Stranger of Kin). Additionally, two composers were honored with compelling works receiving honorable mentions: Walden Young Musicians Program (YMP) alumnus Liam Cummins (Joyas Voladoras) and Kian Ravaei (Majnun in the Wilderness).
The following months focused on the mentorship aspect of the Memphis Composers Institute, which was particularly exciting for me. I reviewed all scores and parts before sending them to the MSO. Ensuring that the selected composers had professional-quality scores and parts was imperative. One especially rewarding experience was a Zoom session with Sina, during which we addressed complex string divisi sections of his work. His dedication paid off—the orchestra had no questions during rehearsal.
All scores and parts, along with my new viola concerto, now titled Extended Play, were printed, delivered, and distributed to the musicians in January 2025. I want thank the amazing team at the MSO, especially librarian Mitchell Walker, who was a joy to work with.
The weekend arrives
Thursday, February 6, 2025, finally arrived. Violist Kimberly Sparr, my son Harris, and I drove up from Baton Rouge. Sadly, Evan Erickson was unable to join us in person due to personal circumstances. However, he was warmly represented by his peers—Sky and I even ran into Evan’s friends at Belltower Coffee making posters in his honor.
On Friday, several of us attended an MSO performance at a local public school, as part of the orchestra’s Orff Side-by-Side program. In partnership with Memphis-Shelby County Schools, this program brings the MSO to elementary schools for a public side-by-side concert featuring all students on percussion or in chorus, using the Orff method. This event was crucial to our weekend, embodying Walden’s core values of education, community engagement, and group singing!
Friday evening kicked off with a warm reception, followed by the first rehearsal, the thrilling moment when we finally heard our compositions performed by the MSO. It was a significant learning experience for all involved, including me, as we saw our work transition from page to stage, identifying what worked beautifully and what required minor adjustments. Sina and Soomin interacted seamlessly with Maestro Dickson and the orchestra. Kimberly Sparr crushed it on Extended Play. The evening concluded with an informal gathering at the hotel, thoughtfully organized by Seth, fostering a friendly atmosphere filled with camaraderie reminiscent of classic Walden evenings.
Saturday morning offered a “choose-your-own-adventure” experience. Many opted to visit the National Civil Rights Museum—a profoundly moving experience that connected our weekend’s artistic journey to Memphis’s rich historical roots. Harris and Kimberly visited the fantastic Memphis Children’s Museum.
The afternoon began with a luncheon hosted by Walden, which allowed participants to connect with musicians from the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and committee members. Following lunch, engaging panel discussions commenced:
Panel 1: Bringing New Music to Life, moderated by Caroline Mallonee, Director of Walden’s Creative Musicians Retreat, featured conductor Kyle Dickson along with composers Sina Karachiani, Soomin Kim, and myself. Caroline skillfully guided the conversation, allowing us to discuss our compositions and respond to audience questions.
Panel 2: Orchestras and New Music: What’s Next?, moderated by me, featured Mahir Cetiz, Kamran Ince, Caroline Mallonee, Sky Macklay, and Robert Patterson. This panel focused on the role of being teachers and mentors to emerging composers.
Following the panels, we headed downtown to one of Memphis’s renowned restaurants, which was fitting, as the entire project had begun over barbecue!
Saturday’s rehearsal had a bit more “edge” than the previous evening. Kyle dove deeply into details, meticulously preparing the orchestra for Sunday’s performance. Evan passed insightful notes from the previous night’s perusal recording to Mahir, who relayed them to Kyle. Sina eloquently described a specific whistle-tone flute technique to the principal flutist, who mastered it immediately. Soomin explained to violinists how an extended passage in solo strings drew inspiration from Korean folk songs of her youth. Kimberly and Kyle worked on navigating the virtuosic cadenzas of Extended Play.
A concert on Super Bowl Sunday? The Memphis Composers Institute made it happen—four works by living composers, performed at 2 pm at the University of Memphis. The program began beautifully with Soomin’s star / ghost / mouth / sea, described by a committee member as “immediately engaging,” and indeed it was hauntingly beautiful. Sina’s Stranger of Kin followed, with the orchestra elegantly capturing its intricate layers of memory. A panelist had aptly called it a “unique, beautiful musical representation of memory.” Evan’s Oobleck effectively captured a gooey, non-solid substance through creative microtonal techniques, executed impressively by the MSO. And, not to toot my own horn, but Kimberly Sparr, Kyle Dickson, and the MSO delivered an outstanding world premiere performance of Extended Play. Each composer introduced their piece. Evan sent a touching message to both the orchestra and his University of Memphis friends in attendance. Seeing Evan’s friends holding posters full of love and support they made at the coffee shop was deeply moving; I had to pause and dry my eyes before speaking. The Memphis Composers Institute brought people together in a truly meaningful and memorable way.
Following the concert, we engaged in a Q&A session, with the composers, Kimberly and Kyle, taking questions from the audience. The atmosphere was rewarding and uplifting, and many audience members stayed for this to connect further.
Eventually, we all parted ways to attend Super Bowl gatherings, catch flights home, or visit friends in the Memphis area.
I can’t say enough about this experience. Let’s (barbe)cue the reprise!
Walden Holiday Parties Recap
2025 Walden Holiday Parties
Throughout January, Walden community members gathered for holiday/new year parties in cities around the country, and online!
Walden holiday parties were held in Baltimore, San Francisco, Cambridge (Massachusetts), Bainbridge Island (Washington), and New York City. 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: Sky Macklay and Sam Pluta in Baltimore, Ruth Rainero and Pieter de Haan in San Francisco, Josh Goodman and Anna Lumelsky in Cambridge, Danielle Schindler Cheung and Jason Cheung in Bainbridge Island, and Michael Schessel in New York City.
Thank you to all who gathered to celebrate the new year with Walden community!
This recap was originally published as part of the February 2025 InterNetzo.
Marilyn Crispell Receives NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship
Marilyn Crispell Receives NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship
Marilyn Crispell, a Junior Conservatory Camp (JCC) alumna and past Walden visiting artist, has received the 2025 Jazz Masters Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, a prestigious award that recognizes her status as a “living legend” for her exceptional contributions to jazz. The National Endowment for the Arts describes her as “one of the most original and sought-after avant-garde jazz pianists and composers,” both for her prolific recording history and her extensive touring and performance experience. Marilyn has previously been granted a composition commission from the Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust and a Guggenheim Fellowship for music composition. Marilyn will be honored alongside three other Jazz Masters on Saturday, April 26, in a free concert at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
This profile was originally published in the February 2025 InterNetzo.
Matthew Hunter Retires from Berlin Philharmonic
Matthew Hunter Retires from Berlin Philharmonic
Matthew Hunter, a JCC alumnus, parent to a Walden alum, and past Walden visiting artist, is retiring from the Berlin Philharmonic after a 30-year career with the renowned orchestra. A violinist turned violist at the age of 27, Hunter fell in love with the “dark chocolate” tone of the instrument and shortly thereafter won the Gee International Viola Competition. After winning a seat in the Berlin Philharmonic, he also became known to audiences as a guitar player during performances of Mahler’s 7th Symphony, adding yet another classical string instrument to his skill set. In a farewell interview with the Philharmonic, he mused, “becoming an artist is one of humankind’s greatest challenges. At the same time, it is one of the greatest privileges—can you imagine being able to devote your energy in pursuit of a sound-world ideal? From a philosophical perspective, a life dedicated to art music connects us to the eternal, to the essence behind representation.” The full interview can be found here.
This profile was original published in the February 2025 InterNetzo.
Aurora Nealand Tours Multiple Countries as Musical Ambassador
Aurora Nealand Tours Multiple Countries as Musical Ambassador
Aurora Nealand, a former YMP faculty member and a perennial visiting artist at Walden, was selected along with her Inquiry Quartet as a touring artist by American Music Abroad. She was in Lesotho this month and will tour Kuwait and Algeria in January. Aurora Nealand’s Inquiry Quartet performs new music in the New Orleans jazz tradition. American Music Abroad (AMA) is a program sponsored by the United States Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Each year, approximately 10 ensembles of American music in different genres are selected from among hundreds of applicants to represent the U.S. through a multi-country tour, with a focus on reaching audiences with little or no access to American music.
This profile was originally published in the December 2024 InterNetzo.
Mary H. Crawford and Jimmy Levi Engaged
Mary H. Crawford and Jimmy Levi engaged
We are excited to share the news that YMP alumni Mary Crawford and Jimmy Levi have gotten engaged! Mary and Jimmy live in San Francisco, where they attended Walden’s celebration and fundraiser in September.
Congratulations, Mary and Jimmy!
This announcement was originally published as part of the November 2024 InterNetzo.
The Walden School/PRISM Quartet Student Commissioning Award
A Walden School/PRISM Quartet Premiere
Congratulations to Young Musicians Program (YMP) alumnus Aaron Nichols, recipient of The Walden School/PRISM Quartet Student Commissioning Award, on the premiere of his commissioned work, Mesovortex!
Aaron’s piece was performed by PRISM Quartet in Philadelphia on November 17 and New York City on November 18. Walden hosted receptions after each concert, and we were so glad to see several Walden alumni and friends in attendance! Many thanks to Walden faculty member, academic dean, and Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR) alumnus Nate Trier for organizing the receptions. Thanks also to Walden board member Kate Valenta and to Mary Anne O’Meara, a past board member and Junior Conservatory Camp (JCC) alumna, for their assistance.
Walden is proud to partner with PRISM Quartet on this opportunity to support young composers in their creative development. We are especially grateful to Matthew Levy, founding member of PRISM Quartet and a former member of Walden’s Board of Directors, for his longstanding collaboration and leadership. The Walden School/PRISM Quartet Student Commissioning Award was launched in 2000, and since then 22 Young Musicians Program (YMP) students have received the award and had their compositions premiered on PRISM’s concert series.
This post was originally published as part of the November 2024 InterNetzo.