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

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

Thank 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!

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.

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)