Katy Avery Commissioning Projects

Bombe Fits is a new chamber ensemble dedicated to the creation and performance of experimental new music with elements of non-classical genres such as rock, heavy metal, jazz, and electronic music. We hope to expand the idea of “classical chamber music” to be more inclusive, challenge audience expectations, and foster experimentation and creativity in partnership with multidisciplinary art forms.  Bombe Fits is also committed to education, community outreach, and raising awareness to social justice issues as we hope to partner with relevant non-profit organizations and educational institutions when possible.

The Bombe Fits premiere concert is scheduled for June 25th in Philadelphia, PA and will feature at least six world premiere pieces combining elements of traditional art song with other non-classical genres. The ensemble asks composers to write for voice, percussion, guitar, bass and electronic music. Some composers may use only some of this instrumentation. All musicians have the option to play acoustic or electric instruments. Composers are provided with a tech sheet which includes any gear we have access to including effects pedals, loopers, microphones, etc. The members of Bombe Fits are believers in collaboration and we will dedicate time to working with composers in advance of the performance to explore sounds and ideas for texts.

Bombe Fits Personnel:

• Katy Avery, Artistic Director & soprano
• Daniel Spratlan, Co-Artistic Director, Managing Director, conductor (as needed)
• Ted Nugent, bass
• Evan Chapman, percussion
• Guitar, TBD

Composers for Premiere Concert:

• Emma Cardon-Wake
• Brendan Sweeney
• John Conahan
• Kevin Crouch
• Evan Chapman 
• Tim Mukherjee

Funding Needs: Artist Fees ($4000 total), Commission Fees ($6000 total), Administrative Fees ($6000 total), Continuing support is encouraged for future projects.

Many people in the United States are experiencing intense feelings of helplessness and uncertainty due to the ever-changing political landscape and the constant onslaught of news. The Katy Avery Commission Project (KACP) is curating a concert experience for performers and attendees to pause and process their emotions, to be present in the moment, and to connect with their community and the natural world through music and art. The performance will feature three newly commissioned pieces in the Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Chestnut Hill Meeting House is home to a Skyspace installation created by contemporary light artist James Turrell. This Skyspace is one of over 90 unique installations worldwide, each designed as an observatory for observing the sky through apertures that manipulate light and perception, offering an immersive and contemplative experience through color and space. For this KACP program, composers are being asked to create pieces responding to the feeling of “screaming into the void”  — as well as to consider the natural world as inspiration to promote connection, mindfulness and reflection during these tumultuous times. Other sources of inspiration for this project stem from a collaboration with an astronomer, whose research on black holes underpins the program’s guiding metaphor. A phenomenon still imperfectly understood, a black hole becomes visible only in relation to its environment, and its broader effects remain unresolved — a resonance that enriches the project’s exploration of identity and perception. The consulting astronomer on this project has developed a series of audible light-curve sound files that will be used as tonal inspiration and will be incorporated as fixed media in the finished piece. Other collaborators on this project are of Lebanese heritage and will explore themes of identity and community while incorporating traditional Arabic tonality and instrumentation.

Collaborators:

• LJ White, composer
• Mieke Doezema, composer
• Alex Wakim, composer
• Katy Avery, soprano
• Liz Lang, soprano
• Darren Lin, percussion
• Oud player TBD

Funding Needs: 

• Commission Fees: $4500
• Artist Fees: $3400
• Administrative Fees: $6000
• Venue rental: $1095
• Instrument rental: $500
• Live audio recording: $750
• Programs: $200
• Marketing & PR: $1000
• Travel Fees: $1600
• Per diem: $800

Love Between Worlds Album, Fall 2027

In October 2025, I presented two house concerts of music for soprano, harp and violin that featured a world premiere song cycle by Tim Mukherjee, two new arrangements by Scott Wheeler, another song cycle by Philadelphia-based composer Melissa Dunphy, and a rarely performed song by late 19^th century composer Mel Bonis. Due to the unusual nature of the instrumentation as well as having these new pieces written for me, I am pursuing making a studio recording in the fall of 2026. Scott Wheeler has agreed to arrange the remainder of the songs from his cycle “Falling in Love with Ghosts”, originally written for soprano, Kathryn Levy and piano. Multiple Grammy-winning recording engineer Andy Kravitz has agreed to record, mix and master the recording, as well as connect us with his vinyl manufacturer, Studio 4 Vinyl. I am hoping to pursue working with New Focus recording to disseminate the album, and Philadelphia-based artist Marie Bender will work with her on creating album art.

Funding needs:

• Studio recording/mixing/mastering with Andy: $13,500
• Artist Fees: $2400
• Vinyl Manufacturing: TBD
• Record release fees: TBD

Body Image Multidisciplinary Project, Fall 2027

I am raising funds to support the creation of a proof-of-concept film to aid in securing funding for the final performance in the fall of 2027. 

Proof-of-Concept Go Fund Me

Collaborators: