Rebekah Conducts new "Composers Now" Commission
Composers Now presents the Cheswatyr Commission Concert w/ Tania Leon + World premiere by Bora Yoon, Conducted by Rebekah Heller
More info / tix coming soon
Composers Now presents the Cheswatyr Commission Concert w/ Tania Leon + World premiere by Bora Yoon, Conducted by Rebekah Heller
More info / tix coming soon
American Academy in Rome Conference and Performance
This international conference and concert series will explore new modes of scholarly and performative expertise on improvisation. Hosted by the American Academy in Rome, the event is curated by George E. Lewis (2010 Resident), Professor of Music at Columbia University, Ilaria Puri Purini, Andrew Heiskell Arts Director at the American Academy in Rome, and Paolo Rotili of Nuova Consonanza, one of the world's most innovative organizations dedicated to experimental music.
More info HERE
International Contemporary Ensemble
Nuova Consonanza
Rebekah conducts the Mannes Wind Orchestra in a program of both traditional and Experimental Repertoire
International Contemporary Ensemble x Tri-Centric plays Anthony Braxton’s Thunder Music
Rebekah Heller bassoon and conductor
Carl Testa double bass and electronics
Levy Lorenzo percussion
Ingrid Laubrock saxophone
Darius Jones saxophone
Reut Regev trombone
Chris McIntyre trombone
Jonathan Finlayson trumpet
Nick Hallett voice
Kyoko Kitamura voice
Raquel Klein voice
Adam Matlock voice and accordion
Anne Rhodes voice
Fay Victor voice
Rebekah is back at the fabulous upstate venue THE MILL to play down her new album, Righteous Rage
TIX and more info here: https://themilladk.com/music/rebekah-heller-solo
Tyshawn Sorey’s powerful work about the life of Josephine Baker comes alive through singer Julia Bullock’s captivating performance with 5 stunning instrumentalists, joined onstage by Tyshawn himself. Built together over a decade by all the collaborators, this piece is a powerful and poignant journey.
Tyshawn Sorey
Julia Bullock
Rebekah Heller
Alice Teyssier
Jennifer Curtis
Dan Lippel
Travis LaPlante
Directed by Peter Sellars
Poetry by Claudia Rankine
Sound by Jodie Elff
Commissioned by International Contemporary Ensemble
Rebekah conducts the renowned International Contemporary Ensemble in a presentation of Afrodiasporic new music from around the world, including two Canadian composers and two world premieres. The Ensemble’s Artistic Director, George Lewis, will host a pre-concert discussion at 4:30pm with New Music Concerts Composer-in-Residence Rashaan Allwood, former Canadian Parliamentary Poet Laureate George Elliott Clarke, and UT Professor Beth Coleman.
The program will include:
Yaz Lancaster: ourselves in the other (2025, Canadian premiere)
Corie Rose Soumah: Tossed Parachutes of Lilacs and Lungs (2025, Canadian premiere)
Marcos Balter: Árvore (2025, Canadian premiere)
Joshua Uzoigwe: “Egwu Amala” from Talking Drums (1991)
Beth Coleman: new work, (world premiere)
Rashaan Allwood: new work (world premiere)
Tickets and more info Here: https://www.rcmusic.com/concert/u-of-t-presents-international-contemporary-ensemble-composing-while-black-462001
Rebekah leads the International Contemporary Ensemble in a thrilling program at the TIME:SPANS Festival in New York City
Njabulo Phungula
ochre song, 2024*
for flute clarinet, saxophone horn, trombone, percussion, harp, piano, violin, viola, cello, double bass
* NY Premiere
Imsu Choi
Pop, 2023*
for flute, clarinet, trombone, percussion, and electronics
* US Premiere
Farzia Fallah
I did not paint the war. I lived the war. - une Aubade, 2025*
for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, piano, percussion, violin, viola, cello, and double bass
* US Premiere
Commissioned by Ensemble Musikfabrik, Christine Schug-Mewes and Joachim Mewes, and Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ with the support of Ammodo.
Márton Illés
Forajzok , 2021*
for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, percussion, piano, 2 violins, viola, cello, and double bass
* US Premiere
International Contemporary Ensemble
Rebekah Heller, conductor
Isabel Lepanto Gleicher, flute
Jasmine Daquin, oboe
Emmalie Tello, clarinet
Alexander Davis, bassoon
Erin Rogers, saxophones
Nicolee Kuester, horn
Gareth Flowers, trumpet
Michael Lormand, trombone
Marcus Rojas, tuba
Modney, violin
Leah Asher, violin
Wendy Richman, viola
Irène Han, cello
Randall Zigler, bass
Nuiko Wadden, harp
Ross Karre and Clara Warnaar, percussion
Erika Dohi, piano
RIGHTEOUS RAGE, Rebekah’s 3rd solo album, is officially released on CD and all streaming platforms. VINYL info coming soon.
Pre-order from Cantaloupe Music here:
Celebrate with Rebekah the release of her long-awaited 3rd solo album, on Cantaloupe Music, Righteous Rage!
Featuring bassoon ensemble repertorire, multi-tracked by Rebekah, from composers:
Julius Eastman, Steve Reich, Jessie Cox, Fay Victor and Britany J Green
This will be a listening event and celebration.
STAY TUNED for location and RSVP info
Rebekah curates and conducts the Mannes Wind Orchestra
Rebekah joins longtime collaborator Fay Victor to conduct her ensemble in an evening of new music by Victor at The Jazz Gallery
Rebekah conducts International Contemporary Ensemble’s return to Oberlin for this week-long residency, “Composing While Black, Volume II.” Curated by the Ensemble’s Artistic Director, George Lewis, “Composing While Black” at Oberlin is conceived as a pair of residencies spanning a period of two years. The highly successful “Composing While Black, Volume I” took place in 2025, and this second residency will include rehearsals, workshops, and panel discussions for Oberlin students.
The residency will culminate in a concert featuring members of the Ensemble in collaboration with members of Oberlin’s Contemporary Music Ensemble in a program of large-scale works conducted by Tim Weiss and Rebekah heller. This collaboration celebrates Oberlin & the Ensemble’s shared history as well as the rich musical connections fostered at Oberlin.
This performance is made possible through lead support from the Arlene & Larry Dunn Fund for Afrodiasporic Music.
Rebekah conducts the International Contemporary Ensemble in an evening of exciting new music created by the next generation of composers. In collaboration with Columbia Composers—a student-run organization dedicated to showcasing works by doctoral composition students at Columbia University—this concert features world premieres and recent works that reflect the diversity and innovation of today’s contemporary music scene. As part of an ongoing partnership that champions emerging voices, the Ensemble brings its signature artistry and adventurous spirit to the performance of these student compositions, offering audiences a dynamic glimpse into the future of experimental sound.
Rebekah conducts International Contemporary Ensemble as the Ukrainian Contemporary Music Festival opener on March 19, featuring a new co-commissioned world premiere arrangement by 2026 Composer-in-Residence Alla Zahaykevych, whose works receive U.S. premieres across all concerts
Rebekah gives a masterclass to students at Singapore’s Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music
Rebekah joins her International Contemporary Ensemble colleagues, composer / performer Tyshawn Sorey, and vocalist Julia Bullock for Perle Noire: Meditations for Joséphine (2016) at the Adelaide Festival
directed by the one and only Peter Sellars
Composer & Piano/Percussion Tyshawn Sorey
Texts Claudia Rankine
Director Peter Sellars
Joséphine Baker Julia Bullock
Violin, International Contemporary Ensemble Jennifer Curtis
Guitar, International Contemporary Ensemble Dan Lippel
Flute, International Contemporary Ensemble Alice Teyssier
Bassoon, International Contemporary Ensemble Rebekah Heller
Saxophone, International Contemporary Ensemble Travis Laplante
photo by Jonathan Finlayson
Rebekah conducts a World Premiere by Brittany J. Green
with the Harlem Chamber Players
Commissioned by Cheswatyr Commissions and Produced by Composers NOW
Rebekah performs the masterpiece Quasi Hoquetus, by Sofia Gubaidulina, with her Mannes Colleagues: Milan Milisavljevic, viola, and J.Y. Song, Piano on a program featuring chamber music collaborations by Mannes Faculty Members
Rebekah performs with her International Contemporary Ensemble Colleagues the music of the legendary Anthony Braxton and innovative composer / guitarist Mary Halverson
FREE with RSVP
Rebekah is thrilled to make her conducting debut at the iconic NYC new music festival, TIME:SPANS
with The International Contemporary Ensemble
featuring US premieres by Marcos Balter and Corie Soumah
TIX and more info
PROGRAM
Ashkan Behzadi: Carnivalesque (2014-16)
for conductor, flute (piccolo), bass clarinet, percussion, piano, violin, viola, cello
Tebogo Monnakgotla: Wooden bodies (2020)
for string quartet
Corie Rose Soumah: Tossed Parachutes of Lilacs and Lungs (2025, US Premiere)
Co-commissioned by Darmstadt Summer Course and The Earle Brown Music Foundation Charitable Trust
for conductor, flute, clarinet, percussion, electric guitar, piano, violin, viola, cello, electronics
Marcos Balter: New Work (2025, US Premiere)
Co-commissioned by International Contemporary Ensemble, Darmstadt Summer Course and The Earle Brown Music Foundation Charitable Trust
for conductor, flute, clarinet, percussion, electric guitar, electric bass, piano, 2 violins, viola, cello, electronics
Thierry Pécou: Méditation sur la fin de l'espèce (2017)
for conductor, flute/alto flute, [Cb Cl- contrabass clarinet?], electric guitar, keyboards, solo cello, violin, double bass, electronics (tape)
International Contemporary Ensemble
Rebekah Heller, conductor
Mariel Roberts, cello
Alice Teyssier, flute
Campbell MacDonald, clarinet
Daniel Lippel, electric guitar
Randy Zigler, electric bass
Erika Dohi, piano
Modney, violin
Gabriela Diaz, violin
Wendy Richman, viola
Mariel Roberts Musa, cello
Levy Lorenzo, percussion and electronics
Photo by Cherylynn Tsushima for Miller Theatre at Columbia University
Rebekah is thrilled to make her conducting debut at the world-renowned Darmstadt International Summer Courses for New Music
with International Contemporary Ensemble
PROGRAMS:
July 22, 10pm
Hans Thomalla: Harmoniemusik (2019/20)
a dramatic evening-length work performed in near darkness with musicians surrounding the audience
July 24, 7:30pm
Ashkan Behzadi: Carnivalesque (2014-16)
Yaz Lancaster: ourselves in the other (2024)
Uraufführung / World Premiere
Auftrag des International Contemporary Ensemble
Commissioned by the International Contemporary Ensemble
Elaine Mitchener: th/e s/ou/nd be/t/ween (2023)
Corie Rose Soumah: Tossed Parachutes of Lilacs and Lungs (2025)
Uraufführung / World Premiere
Auftrag der Darmstädter Ferienkurse und des Earle Brown Music Foundation Charitable Trust
Commission of the Darmstadt Summer Course and The Earle Brown Music Foundation Charitable Trust
Marcos Balter: Árvore (2025)
Uraufführung / World Premiere
Auftrag des International Contemporary Ensemble, der Darmstädter Ferienkurse und des Earle Brown Music Foundation Charitable Trust
Commission of the International Contemporary Ensemble, the Darmstadt Summer Course and The Earle Brown Music Foundation Charitable Trust
Elaine Mitchener (Stimme / Voice)
International Contemporary Ensemble
Rebekah Heller (Musikalische Leitung / Musical Direction)
Photo by Cherylynn Tsushima for Miller Theatre at Columbia University
Rebekah plays a solo electro-acoustic show, featuring music by her and others.
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rebekah-heller-tickets-1323615502599?aff=odcleoeventsincollection
Rebekah curates and conducts the Oberlin Sinfonietta and the Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble in their final May concerts.
Concerts with Fay Victor and Josh Rubin, along with a solo performance on the FROMM Distinguished Scholar series featuring the work of Rand Steiger.
Fromm show INFO / TIX
April 4 at 7pm
Rebekah is thrilled to perform a FREE program of new music for bassoon choir by composers from the African Diaspora, on the iconic Pop-Up series by Miller Theatre at Columbia University
PROGRAM
Fay Victor
Nurture (for Ingram) (2024) for solo bassoon and seven pre-recorded bassoons, world premiere (solo version)
commissioned by Rebekah Heller
Brittany J. Green
Righteous Rage (2024) for solo bassoon and seven pre-recorded bassoons
world premiere
commissioned by Rebekah Heller
Jessie Cox
Sonic Cartographies (2021) for solo bassoon and six pre-recorded bassoons
commissioned by Rebekah Heller
Julius Eastman (arr. Rebekah Heller)
The Holy Presence of Joan d’Arc (1981/2024), for solo bassoon and nine pre-recorded bassoons
Rebekah Plays a solo show at the incredible Japanese new music Festival - The Kanazawa International Experimental Music Festival.
She’ll premiere pieces by Tam Pham, Lukas Ligeti, and MASUDA Kenta, along with performing her arrangement of Eastman’s The Holy Presence of Joan d’Arc and two of her own compositions.
She’ll be playing a few improvised shows with festival collaborators as well.
Link + More info coming soon
Rebekah takes a moment to breathe and work on compositions for her next album.
Rebekah Conducts International Contemporary Ensemble in Paris, at the iconic Reid Hall.
More info coming soon.
Rebekah conducts and performs with International Contemporary Ensemble in two programs during their Berlin Residency at the Haus Der Kulturen Der Welt
November 8
Composing While Black, Berlin Edition
November 10
An evening with Com Chor Berlin
Free improv show with Fay Victor - voice, Sofia Borges - drums, Achim Kaufman - piano + Toby Delius - clarinet and tenor saxophone
Rebekah conducts International Contemporary Ensemble in two concerts during their Peabody University Residency.
September 25
The Future is Now II
An evening of student Compostions
September 26
Composing While Black
Rebekah conducts International Contemporary Ensemble for 2023 MacArthur Fellow Courtney Bryan’s Miller Theatre Composer Portrait
Photo by Rob Davidson for Miller Theatre
Rebekah performs in a new ICE commission of experimental artist Earl Howard
Info / ticket link forthcoming