Judith Eisner - violin,
Guna Skujina - piano,
Stella Anderson - viola,
Molly Wilbur-Cohen - cello,
Marla Okner - violin
Isla Henjy - clarinet
For upcomming concerts click here.
Since 1992 the ensemble called womenperformhers has commissioned and performed works from local and internationally known composers and poets.
In the past, most compositions from women, were limited to chamber works because orchestras were not accessible to them. Historically this ensemble is just the right size for chamber music played in the home.
Most female composers overcame social, educational and economic barriers, to produce classical music on a level equal to that of men. Brahms, Beethoven and Bach are familiar names but Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel and Clara Schumann are not as well known. It is a shame. The women composers are just as good but they are usually known by their association with their husbands. womenperformhers lets the music speak for itself.
The womenperformhers chamber ensemble chose their name to describe their mission. Judith Eisner and Nancy Cox put the words together 'women perform hers' but with a twist at the end, it says 'hers', meaning that the music was composed by a woman and therefore it is 'hers'. The name is usually written without hyphens or breaks and it is typed in lowercase letters to emphasize the subtle nature of the cause.
For more than 20 years they have brought the music to the public: about three times a year. For many years they played in the Landmark Center in St. Paul and now they perform in other venues, mostly in churches and synagogues, in libraries and at home concerts.
Audiences and critics have been delighted to hear this neglected music. William Randall Beard, music critic of the Pioner Press has said, "They perform with wit, ardor and great depth of feeling".
Today they commission works from contemporary composers and they still play historic pieces from Hildegard von Bingen and Barbara Strozzi and Mendelssohn-Hensel and Clara Schumann. Now they perform some pieces from men like Brahms and Milhaud and even Peter Schickele. Recent commissions performed are from Libby Larsen, Sarah Miller, Maura Bosch and Diane Benjamin.
