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Composers Now is proud to present the 2025–2026 Cheswatyr Commissions concert, an evening of bold new music celebrating legacy, innovation, and the power of living women composers. The event will take place on Monday, November 17, 2025, at 6:00 PM at The Forum at Columbia University (601 West 125th Street). Admission is free; reservations are recommended via this link.
This year’s featured commission is a world premiere by Brittany J. Green, a North Carolina-based composer known for her genre-defying work in concert music, multimedia, and experimental sound. Green’s new ensemble piece with electronics will be conducted by Rebekah Heller, acclaimed bassoonist, conductor, and champion of contemporary music.
The program also includes:
Presented in partnership with The Harlem Chamber Players, the Cheswatyr Commissions concert honors the visionary legacy of Cece Wasserman, a passionate arts philanthropist whose leadership catalyzed commissions from luminaries such as Missy Mazzoli, Arlene Sierra, and Julia Wolfe. The program continues to empower women composers whose work reflects bold creativity, cultural resonance, and a commitment to shaping the future of music.
Brittany J. Green (b. 1991) has been described as “a creative force of attention-seizing versatility” (The Washington Post) and “cinematic in the best sense” (Chicago Classical Review). Her work has been featured by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s MusicNOW, the New York City Electronic Music Festival, and the American Composers Orchestra, with performances at Carnegie Hall, Tanglewood, and Miller Theater. Green’s research engages Black feminist and queer theory, with a focus on Julius Eastman and the sonic traditions of the Black Church. She currently teaches composition and theory at East Carolina University.
The Cheswatyr Commissions is a signature commissioning initiative created and produced by Composers Now, with underwriting from the Cheswatyr Foundation. Rooted in Cece’s belief in substantive support for artists, the program continues to empower composers whose work reflects bold creativity, cultural resonance, and a commitment to shaping the future of music.
“The Cheswatyr Commission and our partnership with Compsers Now honors the deep friendship between our Mom and Tania León”, said Wendy Wasserman, Cheswatyr Foundation Board member and Cece Wasserman’s daughter. “Like Tania and Composers Now, Cece had a passionate dedication to elevating contemporary women composers.”
Composers Now selects each commissionee through a thoughtful, mission-aligned process that centers artistic excellence, inclusivity, and the potential for meaningful community impact. Past commissions have included Niloufar Nourbakhsh, Alyssa Regent, and Milena Casado.