About the Piece

Instrumentation:

Saxophone Quartet

Exclusionary Period: * if 100% goal is reached.

1 year starting on Delivery date. (September 1, 2025 - September 1, 2026)

Project Description:

She is a Shapeshifter for saxophone quartet is a genre-defying composition that explores the complex spectrum of femininity through the symbolic phases of the moon. This piece delves into the fluidity and diversity of gender identity, traversing the traditionally feminine, the masculine, and the spaces in between as it mirrors how the moon’s cycle reflects the ever-changing nature of selfhood and expression. Each movement represents a different lunar phase, evoking the tensions, harmonies, and contradictions that exist within and between these identities. As the music flows seamlessly between contrasting energies, She is a Shapeshifter invites listeners to reflect on the many phases of gender and identity, honoring the complexities inherent in each. In this way, the moon can serve as a metaphor for change, and this piece celebrates the cyclical nature of self-expression. It holds sacred space for the journey between the feminine and masculine that is fluid and deeply personal, as each emits profound energy into the world.

Project Budget:

Composer Fee - $2,000

First Edition Printing Allotment - $250

NWP Overhead - $750

About the Composer & Medusa Saxophone Quartet

Visit Courtney's Website

Composer Bio:

Dr. Courtney Long is an active saxophonist, educator, and clinician, performing as a soloist and with various chamber groups. She has also played and presented at the North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial and National Conferences several times. Dr. Long's research areas of interest are post-tonal motivic analysis and its application to agency and narrative theories, performative analysis, and motivic parallelism in post-tonal and Romantic music. You can find her most recent work published in The Saxophone Symposium (Volume 42).

Long holds a Doctor of Arts degree in Music from the University of Northern Colorado in Saxophone Performance with a secondary emphasis in Music Theory. Prior to her studies at UNC, she earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Saxophone Performance from Friends University in Wichita, Kansas, and her Master of Music degree in Music Theory and Composition from Wichita State University. She has studied saxophone under Andrew Dahlke, Robert Young, Jean Lansing, and Lisa Hittle. Long has played saxophone with the Colorado Symphony, Colorado Music Festival, Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra, Greeley Philharmonic, Wichita Symphony Orchestra, and the Wichita Wind Ensemble, and has previously held teaching positions in both saxophone and music theory at University of Northern Colorado, Colorado Christian University, Friends University, and Bethany College. She loves supporting music education at all levels and has served as a clinician and guest artist at several schools, camps, and outreach programs. She enjoys learning and performing all types of music.

Visit the Medusa Saxophone Quartet Website

Medusa Saxophone Quartet Bio:

Medusa Saxophone Quartet (MSQ) is a professional, all-women saxophone quartet formed in April 2023. The members of MSQ come from different musical backgrounds and teachers, and each have a distinct profession. MSQ’s mission is to support historically excluded and marginalized communities through community outreach, performance, and intentional programming.

Medusa Saxophone Quartet prioritizes community engagement by performing at retirement homes, coffee shops, and other local businesses to share music with wider audiences. MSQ has partnered with organizations in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, and Oklahoma, with additional community engagement opportunities planned in Louisiana.

Medusa Saxophone Quartet actively collaborates with young, emerging, and professional composers. In 2024, MSQ launched the inaugural High School Student Composer Project in Louisiana. This initiative offers high school student musicians—whether new or experienced—a unique professional development opportunity. MSQ also collaborates with the New Works Project, a nonprofit dedicated to providing inclusive commissioning and publishing services, including educational programming and career resources for the musical community.

Medusa Saxophone Quartet regularly performs at regional, national, and international conferences and has appeared as guest artists at universities and public schools. Additionally, MSQ members have active solo and chamber engagements.

Medusa Saxophone Quartet is not just a name, but a symbol of resilience and empowerment. The ensemble is named for Medusa of Greek mythology, a figure whose story has been long misrepresented in history. Like the retelling of Medusa’s story, MSQ aims to provide a voice for historically excluded populations. To read more about the reclaimed story of Medusa, we recommend the following resources.

How to Participate

Thank you for supporting the creation of new music through New Works Project! Here's how you can join this exciting journey:

Donate Directly
- You can contribute by making a direct donation to the consortium.
- Donations will list your name as a contributor in the final score, but they will not include a copy of the music or other rewards.
Register as a Consortium Participant
1. To unlock rewards, Complete this Participant Agreement
  1. Ensembles looking to crowdfund their participation complete the form above and our team will create a crowdfunding team for your ensemble within 24 hours of the submission for you to start crowdfunding.
2. Make your donation or use the Join this Project button above to create your crowdfunding page.
  As a Consortium Participant, you can fundraise, track your progress, and receive exclusive rewards, including:
  - - $75–$100: Name in the score and a digital copy of the piece as a thank-you gift.
    - $101–$150: Name in the score and a print copy of the piece as a thank-you gift.
    - $250+: 60 minute session with Courtney on the piece. Via zoom or in-person based on location.
  - All Consortium Participants who receive a copy of the piece ($75+ tier or higher) will also enjoy 12 months of exclusive performance rights to the piece once the project is 100% funded. See Participant Agreement for more details.
Share this Project on Social Media
- Help us spread the word by sharing the project with your friends and followers on social media.
- Every time you share, you help us move closer to our fundraising goal and allow more people to experience the new music we’re creating together.

For questions or assistance, please reach out to us at info@newworksproject.org.

"She is a Shapeshifter" by Courtney Long

By New Works Project

"She is a Shapeshifter" by Courtney Long

Saxophone Quartet

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