Commissioning New works is at the core of what we do
“Lyric Fest commissions new works, so that generations to come will know who we are, by our songs.”
Commissioning and performing new works has become integral to LF's mission and programming philosophy.
Lyric Fest makes a special commitment to American song by commissioning new works, and by promoting the work we commission. Our work is focused on creating new songs for a new age, connecting more relevantly to today’s audiences, and adding works of substance to the repertory.
LF enjoys working in partnership with composers, providing them opportunities for creating and mounting performances of their work. Since its founding, Lyric Fest has commissioned 39 composers, 10 poet/ lyricists, for over 200 songs, 19 song cycles/groups, and numerous arrangements by local, regional and nationally recognized composers.
Please address all inquiries to Suzanne or Laura at info@lyricfest.org.
Have a look at the works we have commissioned.
Past Commissions
2022
Jennifer Higdon
Little River Songs
Jennifer Higdon's "Little River Songs" was commissioned by Lyric Fest through the generous gift of Marilyn Fishman.
Apr 9, 2022
2022
Allen Krantz
Three Sephardic Songs
Apr 9, 2022
2022
John Conahan
American Dreams
Apr 9, 2022
2022
Gregory Brown
The Ballad of Anna Rosina
Apr 9, 2022
2022
Gilda Lyons
El Zopilote
Apr 9, 2022
2022
Melissa Dunphy
Eat the Rich
Melissa Dunphy's "Eat the Rich" was commissioned by Lyric Fest through the generous gift of Mignon Groch.
Apr 9, 2022
2022
Robert Maggio
The Story About the Rose
Apr 9, 2022
2022
Benjamin Wenzelberg
Through the Brightening Air
Benjamin Wenzelberg's "Through the Brightening Air" was commissioned by Lyric Fest through the generous gift of Suzanne DuPlantis.
Apr 9, 2022
2022
Jeffrey Scott
A Morte Devagar
Jeffrey Scott's "A Morte Devagar" was commissioned by Lyric Fest through the generous gift of Jeffrey Brillhart and Joacy Mendonça.
Apr 9, 2022
2022
Michael Djupstrom
Sejdefu majka budaše
Michael Djupstrom's "Sejdefu majka budaše" was commissioned by Lyric Fest through the generous gift of Allen Schimmel.
Apr 9, 2022
2022
Damien Geter, composer
COTTON
Multi-Media Song Cycle Inspired By The Cotton Photography Of Philadelphia Artist John Dowell
Feb 27, 2022
2021
Jul 9, 2021
2021
Jul 9, 2021
2021
Lori Laitman
A Party for Kevin (the piglet)
Poetry by Susan de Sola. A Party for Kevin (the piglet) was commissioned by LF for "The Funny Bone."
Jul 9, 2021
2020
Nov 14, 2020
2020
Aug 26, 2020
2019
Daron Hagen
The Art of Song
Nov 4, 2019
2019
Apr 7, 2019
2019
Apr 7, 2019
2019
Apr 7, 2019
2019
Apr 7, 2019
2019
Apr 7, 2019
2019
Apr 7, 2019
2019
Apr 6, 2019
2019
Apr 6, 2019
2019
Apr 6, 2019
2019
Apr 6, 2019
2019
Apr 6, 2019
2019
Apr 6, 2019
2018
Nov 10, 2018
2017
Dec 3, 2017
2017
Sep 21, 2017
2017
Mar 31, 2017
2017
Mar 31, 2017
2016
Dec 6, 2016
2016
John Conahan
How Can I Keep From Singing
(text by Robert Wadsworth Lowry, with revised lyrics by John Conahan)
Oct 8, 2016
2016
Oct 8, 2016
2016
Apr 2, 2016
2016
Apr 2, 2016
2016
Apr 2, 2016
2016
Apr 2, 2016
2016
Apr 2, 2016
2016
Apr 2, 2016
2016
Apr 2, 2016
2016
Apr 2, 2016
2016
Apr 2, 2016
2015
Nov 7, 2015
2015
Nov 7, 2015
2015
Nov 7, 2015
2015
Apr 19, 2015
2015
Apr 19, 2015
2015
Kile Smith
In This Blue Room
(text by Julia Blumenreich, Susan Fleshman, Siobhan Lyons, and Donna Wolf-Palacio; based on the batik paintings of Laura Madeleine)
Mar 13, 2015
2014
Nov 16, 2014
2014
Mar 28, 2014
2014
Mar 28, 2014
2014
Mar 28, 2014
2014
Mar 28, 2014
2014
Mar 28, 2014
2014
Mar 28, 2014
2013
John Conahan
Wade in the Water
Mar 3, 2013
2013
John Conahan
O Freedom
Mar 3, 2013
2013
Andrea Clearfield
The Drift of Things; Winter Songs
(text by Frost, Kancewick, Wagoner, Keats, Shakespeare, Hoelderlin and Rilke)
Jan 25, 2013
2013
Daron Hagen
After Words
(text from the Bible, Ruben Dario, Peter Handke, Seamus Heaney, and Wilhelm Muller)
Jan 25, 2013
2012
Oct 14, 2012
2012
Oct 14, 2012
2011
Nov 12, 2011
2011
Nov 12, 2011
2011
Nov 12, 2011
2011
Jan 28, 2011
2010
Nov 21, 2010
2009
Oct 30, 2009
2008
Nicholas White
The Aim Was Song
(text by Edna St. Vincent Millay, Robert Frost, Christina Rossetti, and Alfred Lord Tennyson)
Apr 12, 2008
2006
Oct 15, 2006
2005
Nov 19, 2005
2005
Jeffrey James Harvey
Dance Through Life
Nov 19, 2005
Search for commissions through our
Composers
- Jasmine Barnes
- Derek Bermel
- Abbie Betinis
- Benjamin C.S. Boyle
- Jeffrey Brillhart
- Gregory Brown
- Curt Cacioppo
- Andrea Clearfield
- John Conahan
- Robert Convery
- Douglas Cuomo
- Michael Djupstrom
- Melissa Dunphy
- Damien Geter
- Daron Aric Hagen
- Juliana Hall
- Jennifer Higdon
- Karl Hinze
- Allen Krantz
- Lori Laitman
- Thomas Lloyd
- Raymond Lustig
- Gilda Lyons
- Robert Maggio
- Ellen Mandel
- Samuel McLaughlin
- Patrice Michaels
- John Musto
- Isabella Nicole Ness
- Nkeiru Okoye
- James Primosch
- Joel Puckett
- Jeffrey Scott
- David Shapiro
- Logan Skelton
- Kile Smith
- Benjamin Wenzelberg
- Nicholas White
- Maurice Wright