Music Direct

🎶 Celebrating Women Composers

In honour of International Women’s Day, we’re highlighting a selection of works by women featured in our 2025–2026 Select New Music list.

These composers bring a wide range of musical voices to ensembles of every kind. From young concert bands finding their sound, to jazz ensembles and choirs exploring expressive new repertoire.

Among the many works we’ve featured:

Concert Band
After Impact — Laura Estes
There Is Always Light — Elizabeth Studor
Saga — Christina Huss
Morning Star — Katie O’Hara LaBrie
Pastel Sunset — Heather Hoefle
The Journey Begins — Cait Nishimura
Lions of Trafalgar — Rebecca G. Jarvis

Jazz Band
The Pursuit of Funkiness — Michelle Fernandez
Mosquitoes — Monika Herzig
Summertime — George Gershwin / arr. Michele Fernandez

Choir
A Winter Warning — Kara Stacy Bedwell
One Ripple — Kathryn Parrotta
Eternity — Leah Hokanson
Little River — Lisa Longe
Sometimes — Alexsis Neenan
Alberta Sky — Isabel Berlina / arr. Erica Phare-Bergh
If I Can Stop One Heart from Breaking — Patti Drennan

We’re proud to feature music by women throughout our catalogue and hope these works inspire thoughtful and diverse programming in the seasons ahead.

Explore the full list at musicdirect.ca

JazzBand

Come visit our booth at the Alberta Band Summit on Oct 24 & 25! We look forward to seeing you there! Go Teachers!🎶

✨ Counting Down to our New Music Session 2025 ✨

Our 2025 Sessions kick off next week — and we can’t wait to see you there!

🎶 New concert band, jazz, and choral music
🍽 Food, prizes, and great company
✨ Inspiration to launch your year strong

📍 Calgary – Mon, Aug 25
📍 Red Deer – Tue, Aug 26
📍 Edmonton – Wed, Aug 27

It’s not too late to RSVP — send us a quick DM or email to let us know where you’ll join in!

Head to https://musicdirect.ca/ for more details.

🎶 2025 New Music Reading Sessions 🎶
You're invited!

After reviewing hundreds of new releases, we’re excited to share our Select New Titles for the upcoming year – live and in person!

📍 Calgary – Mon, Aug 25
Band music starts at 3pm with social at 2pm
Choir music starts at 7pm with social at 6pm.
📍 Red Deer – Tue, Aug 26
Band music starts at 4pm with social at 3pm.
📍 Edmonton – Wed, Aug 27
Band starts at 3pm with social at 2pm.

🎼 Concert Band, Jazz Band & Choral picks
📚 Great reference books
🎄 Holiday & sale titles
👩‍🎤 Works by women & diverse composers
🎁 Prizes
🍽 Dinner & drinks provided

✨ A great way to kick off your year with community, inspiration, and outstanding repertoire.

Invite a fellow director and RSVP by email or dm to let us know which location you'll attend!

🎉Our Annual June Sale is ON!🎉
Stock up now on method books and music supplies at musicdirect.ca
Link in bio


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Just some of our favourite choral titles in the last few years, written/arranged by woman composers!

🎵Some One - Cristi Miller
https://musicdirect.ca/product/some-one-cristi-miller/

🎵Do Better - Kathryn Parrotta
https://musicdirect.ca/product/do-better-kathryn-parrotta/

🎵Inside - Kathryn Parrotta
https://musicdirect.ca/product/inside-parrotta/

🎵Carefree Highway - Erica Phare-Bergh
https://musicdirect.ca/product/carefree-highway-erica-phare-bergh/

🎵A Place in the Choir - Erica Phare-Bergh
https://musicdirect.ca/product/a-place-in-the-choir-satb-phare-bergh/

🎵Time - Jennifer Cook
https://musicdirect.ca/product/time-satb-jennifer-cook/

🎵Everybody's Got a Song to Sing - Karen Crane
https://musicdirect.ca/product/everybodys-got-a-song-to-sing-2-part-crane/

🎵Bloom - Lisa Longe
https://musicdirect.ca/product/bloom-2-part-longe/

🎵Begin with the Heart - Leah Hokanson
https://musicdirect.ca/product/together-we-are-better-3-part-gilpin/

🎵Dulaman - Cristi Cary Miller
https://musicdirect.ca/product/dulaman-3-part-miller/

A Place in the Choir (SATB) – Phare-Bergh – Music Direct Ltd Listen to the coyote howl with this knee-slapper. Bring down the house with this funny joyful composition; an easy sing with a rousing chorus. Get the audience to sing along. The piano part is for dexterous fingers – but a four handed piano version is also available.

Some great jazz tunes by woman composers/arrangers!

🎶 Someone to Watch Over Me - Arr. Ellen Rowe
https://musicdirect.ca/product/someone-to-watch-over-me-rowe/

🎶 Soul Proprietor - Ellen Rowe
https://musicdirect.ca/product/soul-proprietor-rowe/

🎶 Furioso! - Michele Fernandez
https://musicdirect.ca/product/furioso-michele-fernandez/

🎶 You Can Call Me Al - Michele Fernandez
https://musicdirect.ca/product/you-can-call-me-al-fernandez/

🎶 Voando em uma Vespa - Michele Fernandez
https://musicdirect.ca/product/voando-em-uma-vespa-fernandez/

🎶 Emily - Lisa DeSpain
https://musicdirect.ca/product/emily-johnny-mandel/

🎶 Cool Joe, Mean Joe - Lisa DeSpain
https://musicdirect.ca/product/killer-joe-despain/

Soul Proprietor – Rowe – Music Direct Ltd This straight 8ths feel chart for advancing groups is steeped in gospel and 1960’s funk. Two solo sections are included, the first is playable by any saxophone (written or ad lib) or rhythm section player, and the second is playable by any brass player (written or ad lib) or rhythm section member....

Some of our favourite concert band titles are written/arranged by woman composers!
Recordings and shop details linked:

🎼 And the Lions Roared - Carol Britten Chambers
https://musicdirect.ca/product/and-the-lions-roared-chambers/

🎼 Antz - Carol Britten Chambers http://musicdirect.ca/product/antz-chambers/

🎼 Base-Six - Laura Estes
https://musicdirect.ca/product/base-six-laura-estes/

🎼 Blessing Wind - Yukiko Nishimura
https://musicdirect.ca/product/blessing-wind-nishimura/

🎼 Danza la Habana - Ruth Brittin
https://musicdirect.ca/product/danza-la-habana-brittin/

🎼 Falling Water - Yukiko Nishimura
https://musicdirect.ca/product/falling-water-nishimura/

🎼 Fleet Street March - Laura Estes
https://musicdirect.ca/product/fleet-street-march-laura-estes/

🎼 Heart of Fire - Lauren Bernofsky
https://musicdirect.ca/product/heart-of-fire-bernofsky/

🎼 Origin - Cait Nishimura
https://musicdirect.ca/product/origin-cait-nishamura/

🎼 Six Note Symphony - Lisa Galvin
https://musicdirect.ca/product/six-note-symphony-galvin/

🎼 Song for Terra - Yukiko Nishimura
https://musicdirect.ca/product/song-for-terra-yukiko-nishimura/

🎼 Symphonic Dance No. 1 - Carol Britten Chambers
https://musicdirect.ca/product/symphonic-dance-no-1-chambers/

🎼 Tarantella - Carol Britten Chambers
https://musicdirect.ca/product/tarantella-carol-brittin-chambers/

Danza la Habana – Brittin – Music Direct Ltd Danza La Habana’s inception was brought about by the composer’s trip to Cuba, where she was intrigued by their rich musical traditions. Through careful study, Ruth has crafted her version of a Habanera, a blending of the European contredanse and African rhythms, brough to Cuba in the 1700’s.

In honour of International Women's Day tomorrow, we would like to share some excellent reference books written by woman authors!

🎵 Through My Music - Myra Rhoden
Through my music, I can do anything! This is the inspiring message Myra Rhoden and an impressive list of contributing authors are sending to the next generation of leaders with this powerful collection of stories, advice, and practical wisdom.
https://musicdirect.ca/product/through-my-music-rhoden/

🎵 Expressive Musicianship - Shelley Jagow
This method presents interpretative suggestions to enhance ensemble musicianship for band directors and students.
https://musicdirect.ca/product/expressive-musicianship-teachers-manual-jagow/

🎵 Beyond the Notes - Paula Crider
There is something here for educators on every leg of the teaching journey. Crider’s conversational narrative begins with her unconventional student-teaching experience and moves through the essentials for music educators—everything from score study, rehearsal strategies, and conducting technique to classroom culture and teacher self-care.
https://musicdirect.ca/product/beyond-the-notes-crider/

🎵 Realizing Diversity - Karen Howard
Some of you may have seen Karen at this past Music Conference Alberta!
Realizing Diversity by Karen Howard is a groundbreaking and practical resource for crafting diverse and anti-bias music education in classrooms, ensembles, and studios at all levels—from preschool to university and community settings.
https://musicdirect.ca/product/realizing-diversity-karen-howard/

🎵 GO ON, Tell Your Story! - LaToya A. Webb and Julia L. Baumanis
A powerful collection of real-life stories told by trailblazing women band directors of varied experiences and identities about the world of professional music and conducting.
https://musicdirect.ca/product/go-on-tell-your-story/

🎵 Women in Wind Band - Erin Keeton-Howard and Meghan Wagner
Written as a guide for discussion and reflection amongst music educators, Women in Wind Band thoughtfully looks at why female-identifying band directors are still a minority in the field and what can be done about it.
https://musicdirect.ca/product/women-in-wind-band-erin-keeton-howard-meghan-wagner/