The Michael Steinberg & Jorja Fleezanis Fund 2026 Commission
The Wild Iris
World Premiere Performance: Sunday, June 7, 2026, 3pm
The premiere celebrated this compelling new chamber work by composer Ivette Herryman Rodriguez, inspired by a poem by the late Louise Glück, winner of the Nobel Prize.
Also featured: Brahms Piano Trio in B major, Op. 8, featuring Evren Ozel, Bronze Medalist at the 2025 Van Cliburn Competition.
Commission Artists: Alan Snow, violin; Anthony Ross, cello; Kathryn Nettleman, bass; Julie Gramolini Williams, English horn; Erich Rieppel, percussion; and narrator Stephen Yoakam. Violinist Susie Park joined cellist Anthony Ross and pianist Evren Ozel to perform Brahms Piano Trio in B major, Op. 8, after intermission.
Westminster Hall
1200 S. Marquette Ave.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Parking in Westminster Church
underground lot ($12)
Ivette Herryman Rodriguez
Anthony Ross, Minnesota Orchestra principal cellist and Michael Steinberg & Jorja Fleezanis Fund artistic advisor, noted: “This will be an exciting world premiere, and a story of rebirth. Please join us for a beautiful afternoon.”
A Minnesota native, Evren Ozel made his orchestral debut with the Minnesota Orchestra at the age of 11. In 2025 he was the Bronze Medalist of the 17th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. He holds Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Artist Diploma degrees from the New England Conservatory.
Ivette Herryman Rodriguez—composer, pianist, educator—was born on the Island of Youth, Cuba, in 1982. Her music has been described as “breathtakingly beautiful” and has been commissioned and performed nationally and internationally, including by esteemed performers such as the LA Philharmonic and conductor Gustavo Dudamel.
The Michael Steinberg & Jorja Fleezanis Fund New Music Commissions
1st Commission: Ithaka, music by composer Justin Merritt; poetry by C.P. Cavafy
Instrumentation: violin, cello, clarinet, piano, narrator
Premiered on May 8, 2016, at MacPhail Center for Music, Minneapolis, MN
2nd performance on March 10, 2019, St Olaf College, Northfield, MN
Composer contact: justinmerritt@gmail.com or justinmerrittmusic.com
2nd Commission: Slow Song for Mark Rothko, music by composer Emily Cooley; poetry by John Taggert
Instrumentation: flute, alto flute, cello, percussion, narrator
Premiered on November 11, 2018, at Indiana University, Bloomington, IL
2nd performance on June 2, 2019, at Westminster Hall, Minneapolis, MN
Composer contact: emily.c.cooley@gmail.com or emilycooley.com
3rd Commission: Where You Love From, music by composer Jessica Meyer; poetry by Rumi
Instrumentation: violin, viola, cello, percussion, narrator
Premiered on May 14, 2022, at Westminster Hall, Minneapolis, MN
Composer contact: violajessicameyer@gmail.com or jessicameyermusic.com
4th Commission: For the Sleepwalkers, music by composer Jungyoon Wie; poetry by Edward Hirsch
Instrumentation: violin, cello, piano, narrator
Premiered on May 13, 2023, at Westminster Hall, Minneapolis, MN
Composer contact: jwie14@gmail.com or jungyoonwie.com
5th Commission: Stone Pond, music by composer Roydon Tse; poetry by Ellen Bryant Voigt
Instrumentation: violin, 2 cellos, alto sax, narrator
Premiered on May 5, 2024, at Westminster Hall, Minneapolis, MN
Composer contact: roydon.tse@googlemail.com or roydontse.com
6th Commission: An Old Story, music by composer Stefan L. Smith; poetry by Tracy K. Smith
Instrumentation: violin, viola, cello, bass, clarinet, narrator
Premiered on May 4, 2025, at Westminster Hall, Minneapolis, MN
Composer contact: stefan.l.smith@gmail.com or imbd.com
7th Commission: The Wild Iris, music by composer Ivette Herryman Rodriguez; poetry by Louise Glück
Instrumentation: violin, cello, Bass, English horn, piano, percussion, narrator
Premiered on June 7, 2026, at Westminster Hall, Minneapolis, MN
Composer contact: iherryman@gmail.com or iveGeherryman.com
Celebrating the Life & Legacy of Jorja
Jorja Fleezanis, our beloved founder of the Michael Steinberg and Jorja Fleezanis Fund and former concertmaster of the Minnesota Orchestra, died suddenly September 9, 2022. The Fund’s Board of Directors was pleased to honor Jorja’s legacy with the Sunday, May 5, 2024, premiere of Stone Pond.
The Michael Steinberg and Jorja Fleezanis Fund was established by Jorja Fleezanis as a memorial to her husband, Michael, who believed deeply in the power of curiosity as the driving force in creating art and understanding it.
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“To spur curiosity and growth through the performing arts and written word”.
— Jorja Fleezanis
