Welcome to She Is Song! Originally adapted from my program notes, I created this blog as a space to explore the contributions of women creators in classical music.

My research interests span song repertoire and vocal chamber music by women composers from the early Baroque to the present day. Through my Doctoral research, I also delve into the 19th-Century song repertoire of European and North American women composers. I am passionate about creating a more accurate and just historical narrative that centers the contributions of women creators in classical music, as well as an online community to share research, thoughts, music and more!

Ultimately, since I am most interested in pairing scholarship with performance, I tend to think and write about the music/texts that inspire me and the projects I am currently working on. This involves a whole bunch of intersecting topics, including history, politics, literature, and autobiography, as well as examining the works of women composers, writers, visual artists, activists, and historical figures.

Check out my newest post, featured posts, and the archive of my past posts below. To stay up to date, be sure to subscribe (it’s free!) and receive a monthly update in your inbox about each new post!

Featured

Research

In Search of Luise Adolpha Le Beau (Part II): An Estate in Ashes

by | Aug 8, 2022 | Research | 0 Comments

Design: Elizabeth Van Os of Cavatina Creative With the generous support of the Presser Foundation's Presser Graduate Award, I traveled to Germany from late March until...

In Search of Luise Adolpha Le Beau (Part I): My Mother in the Library

by | Jul 1, 2022 | Research | 0 Comments

Design: Elizabeth Van Os of Cavatina Creative With the generous support of the Presser Foundation's Presser Graduate Award, I traveled to Germany from late March until...

Suffragist Series: Mary Church Terrell (1863-1954)

by | Mar 1, 2022 | Research,Season Highlights | 0 Comments

Suffragist Series highlights the fascinating suffrage activists that I researched as dramaturg for A Women's Suffrage Splendiferous Extravaganza! (AWSSE!), a new...

Singing with Myself: Pandemic Virtual Performance & Melissa Dunphy’s June

by | Feb 26, 2022 | Poet,Research | 0 Comments

Reflections on Melissa Dunphy's June (2012) June was presented as part of the recital-film project, I take the long way there. For more information about this program,...

The Myth of Semele: A Woman on Fire

by | Feb 18, 2022 | Composer,Research | 0 Comments

Reflections on Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre's Semelé (1715) Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre's Semelé was performed as part of Portraits: The Self Illuminated. For more...

An Ancient Poet Speaks: Finding the Voice of Sulpicia

by | Feb 18, 2022 | Poet,Research | 0 Comments

Reflections on Jessica Krash's Sulpicia's Songs (2015) Sulpicia's Songs was featured on the film-recital project, I take the long way there. For more information about...

Self-Portraits of Desire: Louise de Vilmorin & Gwen John

by | Feb 7, 2022 | Poet,Research | 0 Comments

Reflections on Francis Poulenc's Trois Poèmes de Louise de Vilmorin Francis Poulenc's Trois Poèmes de Louise de Vilmorin was performed as part of Portraits: The Self...

Composers

The Woman Within the Portrait: Ria & Mizzi

by | Mar 1, 2022 | Composer | 0 Comments

Reflections on Lacy Rose's cycles Ria (2018) and Hope I (2017) Lacy Rose's Ria and Hope I were performed as part of Portraits: The Self Illuminated. For more...

“one heart and one soul”: The Songs of Clara and Robert Schumann

by | Feb 25, 2022 | Composer | 0 Comments

Reflections on Zwölf Gedichte aus F. Rückerts Liebesfrühling von Robert und Clara Schumann (1841) German Romantics: Clara was featured on the film-recital project, I...

«… und, wo ist Fanny?»

by | Feb 18, 2022 | Composer | 0 Comments

Reflections on Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel's Sechs Lieder, Op. 1 (1846) Fanny Mendelssohn's Sechs Lieder, Op. 1 was programmed on The little ghost for The Cantanti...

The Myth of Semele: A Woman on Fire

by | Feb 18, 2022 | Composer,Research | 0 Comments

Reflections on Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre's Semelé (1715) Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre's Semelé was performed as part of Portraits: The Self Illuminated. For more...

Barbara Strozzi: Portrait as Gossip, Rumor, and Innuendo

by | Dec 14, 2021 | Composer,Season Highlights | 0 Comments

Reflections on Barbara Strozzi's È giungerà pur mai (1664) Barbara Strozzi's È giungerà pur mai was performed as part of Portraits: The Self Illuminated. For more...

Poet

A Song for Turbulent Times: Melissa Dunphy’s “Farewell, Angelina”

by | Mar 1, 2022 | Poet,Season Highlights | 0 Comments

Reflections on Melissa Dunphy's Farewell Angelina (2019) Farewell, Angelina was included on the recital-film project, I take the long way there. For more information...

Singing with Myself: Pandemic Virtual Performance & Melissa Dunphy’s June

by | Feb 26, 2022 | Poet,Research | 0 Comments

Reflections on Melissa Dunphy's June (2012) June was presented as part of the recital-film project, I take the long way there. For more information about this program,...

An Ancient Poet Speaks: Finding the Voice of Sulpicia

by | Feb 18, 2022 | Poet,Research | 0 Comments

Reflections on Jessica Krash's Sulpicia's Songs (2015) Sulpicia's Songs was featured on the film-recital project, I take the long way there. For more information about...

Self-Portraits of Desire: Louise de Vilmorin & Gwen John

by | Feb 7, 2022 | Poet,Research | 0 Comments

Reflections on Francis Poulenc's Trois Poèmes de Louise de Vilmorin Francis Poulenc's Trois Poèmes de Louise de Vilmorin was performed as part of Portraits: The Self...

News

Behind the Scenes with A Women’s Suffrage Splendiferous Extravaganza!

by | Feb 28, 2022 | News,Season Highlights | 0 Comments

Go behind the scenes with co-creators November Christine, Caroline Miller, and myself as we discuss our upcoming staged readings of A Women's Suffrage Splendiferous...

Interview: IN Series’ Women Composers Festival

by | Feb 28, 2022 | News | 0 Comments

Watch my interview with Director of Engagement and Individual Giving, Cara Schaefer, to discuss the programming ethos behind IN Series' Women Composers Festival! For...

“Each of the very gifted singers . . . including Noelle McMurtry . . . has at least one aria to deliver . . . These are beautiful, lilting pieces of music, with large amounts of fioritura. The singers’ task of keeping their tone pure and tremolo at bay, in order to contrast “simple” singing with these virtuosic embellishments, is a demanding one (among the women, McMurtry is especially skilled at this).”

Deborah Jowitt

Dance Beat Arts Journal

It must have been a challenge to find performers who could sing and dance as well. All the voices were fine but we were most impressed with sopranos Noelle McMurtry … [who] captured the Baroque style with pure tones that floated beautifully in the upper register.”

Meche Kroop

Voce di Meche

Soprano Noelle McMurtry and bass Andy Berry were the most notable soloists, and the whole tribe created a vibrant, exuberant chorus.

Heidi Waleson

The Wall Street Journal

“In the middle as Polyxo was the more silvery-toned Noelle McMurtry, who turned aside from the trio’s singing to ask questions. She went with increasing insistence to a pile of books, quoting Jung, Ovid, Pausanias, and other sources, her thoughtful analysis offering some comic relief from the unrelenting fierceness of the siren song.”

Charles T. Downey

Washington Classical Review

Whether they sing singly or together, as they do in their portrayal of the Muses, McMurty, Crossot, and Bosworth display that they are fully capable of handling Soper’s sophisticated and intricate score.

Barbara Mackay

DC Metro Theatre Arts

“[Fairy Queen] is all terrific fun once you are swept into the spirit, and that doesn’t take long . . . Especially fine among the singers on Friday were Noelle McMurtry and Tamra Paselk; sopranos.”

James R. Oestreich

The New York Times