Ensemble VIM announces 2025-26 season, debut studio album | EarRelevant

EarRelevant Staff | 1 AUG 2025

ATLANTA, Georgia— Ensemble VIM has announced its upcoming 2025–26 season, which will include a debut studio album, the second cycle of its spark initiative — a program pairing composers with other artists, rotating between the fields of visual art, dance, and spoken word — and three concert programs spotlighting works by living composers from diverse backgrounds.

Season Seven begins October 28 with Mystery & Transformation, a multidisciplinary program featuring music by Caroline Shaw, Kaija Saariaho, Majid Araim, and others, paired with dance performances by Wabi Sabi Terminus.

The ensemble returns March 3 with Con[text]ural Tapestries, a program centered on musical storytelling and cultural identity, including works by Valerie Coleman, Shruthi Rajasekar, and Asha Srinivasan.

In May, the spark II launch concert will feature a world premiere by Emily Koh alongside works by Leah Asher, Lauren McCall, Lera Auerbach, and Alfred Schnittke, in a collaboration with movement artists FyreNation Crew, gloATL, and Wabi Sabi Terminus.

The season will also include the recording of VIM’s debut album, Our Common Humanity, featuring compositions by Jennifer Higdon, Alice Hong, Chelsea Loew, and Carlos Simon, to be recorded in 2026 with a release timeline to be announced later.

Founded in 2018, Ensemble VIM is a flexible, all-women-artist-directed chamber group based in Atlanta known for championing works by BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and women composers, and for collaborating across disciplines with local artists and organizations. ■

For more information visit ensemblevim.org

ENSEMBLE VIM 2025-26 CONCERT SCHEDULE

October 28, 2025 @ 7:30pm
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Atlanta
“Mystery & Transformation”
Majid ARAIM: Life Cycle Ex3
Michael KURTH: The Monster Never Tires!
Yu KUWABARA: Bai and Dharani
Edna LONGORIA: Inspiracio Huasteca
Kaija SAARIAHO: Im Träume
Caroline SHAW: Gustave Le Gray
March 3, 2026 @ 7:30pm
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Atlanta
“Con[text]ural Tapestries”
Valerie COLEMAN: Amazonia
Jennifer HIGDON: American Canvas
Thea MUSGRAVE: Canta Canta (arr. Emily Koh)
Shruthi RAJASEKAR: I Saw You And I Danced
Asha SRINIVASAN: Dviraag
May 2026 (date TBA)
[Location TBA]
“Ignite: Spark II Launch Concert”
Leah ASHER: Fiction
Lera AUERBACH: Triptych: This Mirror With Three Faces
Emily KOH: [New work – world premiere]
Lauren McCALL: A Spark and a Glimmer
Alfred SCHNITTKE: Hymn II

DEBUT STUDIO ALBUM

“Our Common Humanity”
[Recording date, location, and release timeline TBA]
Jennifer HIGDON: American Canvas
Alice HONG: Good Bones
Emily KOH: [New commissioned work]
Chelsea LOEW: The Homegoing
Carlos SIMON: Be Still and Know

EXTERNAL LINKS:

Ensemble VIM: ensemblevim.org

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