PROTESTRA

It’s been a busy June at PROTESTRA! We’re thrilled to be presenting 3 world premieres this month by 3 women composers living and working in New York. The first one is happening tomorrow evening, 6.20.26 in Maplewood, New Jersey:

Acclaimed composer Sheila Silver’s new song cycle, Songs of Resilience, will receive its world premiere on World Refugee Day, 7:00 p.m. at St. George’s Episcopal Church. All proceeds from ticket sales will benefit organizations supporting immigrants and families of immigrants detained at Delaney Hall, an ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey. Beneficiaries include First Friends of NJ & NY and .

Next week, the centerpiece of our concert on 6.27.26 in NYC will be the premieres of new works by Danielle Jagelski and JL Marlor, in a star-studded program of trailblazers:

Titled Founding Mothers, the concert will feature works by contemporary and historic American women composers in an effort to equalize the frequent gender imbalance of traditional July 4th concert programming. PROTESTRA will donate proceeds to two NYC-based charities whose work supports and uplifts women and girls: Hour Children and Girls For Gender Equity (GGE).

For tickets and more info about these two concerts, including how to donate, visit protestra.org 🎟️

"For Danielle and JL, their commentary on the 250th anniversary of the United States is a clear-eyed reckoning with our nation’s history. Both composers recognize the use of shrinking — of exclusivity — to dampen the impact of women, Indigenous people, and people of color. And so they make a point to remind us that their reach is only as limited as they accept it to be, not what others determine."

I CARE IF YOU LISTEN Assistant Editor A. Kori Hill sits down with two ACF Recomposing America artists ahead of the world premieres of their pieces that explore girl/womanhood in America commissioned for Protestra.

https://icareifyoulisten.com/2026/06/danielle-jagelski-and-jl-marlor-compose-america/

Meet Juan Carlos Narváez

Juan Carlos Narváez is a freelance performer and teacher in New York City and the surrounding area. He has performed internationally and achieved two masters degrees from European conservatories.

He is a dedicated community activist and organizer. He makes an impact through his service on the boards of two non-profit organizations, aiming to make music more accessible to marginalized communites.

In March of 2026, Narváez produced and performed in a benefit concert for immigrant aid titled ¿Quiénes Somos? which served as a call-to-action in defense of the immigrant community and raised money for organizations that advocate and defend immigrant communities.

On June 20th, 7pm, World Refugee Day, at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Maplewood, NJ, Juan Carlos will perform Borderless Dreams by Arturo Rodriguez as part of the program of Songs of Resilience, re-emphasizing his call to action in defense of the immigrant community.

Visit protestra.org to learn more and get tickets - all proceeds will benefit Cosecha New Jersey and , two organizations supporting immigrants and families of immigrants detained at Delaney Hall, an ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey.

Meet Juan Carlos Narváez

Juan Carlos Narváez is a freelance performer and teacher in New York City and the surrounding area. He has performed internationally and achieved two masters degrees from European conservatories.

He is a dedicated community activist and organizer. He makes an impact through his service on the boards of two non-profit organizations, aiming to make music more accessible to marginalized communites.

In March of 2026, Narváez produced and performed in a benefit concert for immigrant aid titled ¿Quiénes Somos? which served as a call-to-action in defense of the immigrant community and raised money for organizations that advocate and defend immigrant communities.

On June 20th, 7pm, World Refugee Day, at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Maplewood, NJ, Juan Carlos will perform Borderless Dreams by Arturo Rodriguez.

Visit protestra.org to learn more and get tickets - all proceeds will benefit Cosecha New Jersey and , two organizations supporting immigrants and families of immigrants detained at Delaney Hall, an ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey.

Meet pianist, Francesco Barfoed, hailed for his “fertile imagination” (New York Classical) and “exceptionally sensitive” and “sweeping, riveting” playing (Seen and Heard International).

Barfoed will be performing in the world premiere of Sheila Silver’s song cycle, Songs of Resilience, alongside sopranos Melissa Citro and Teresa Castillo. Francesco will also be performing in Arturo Rodriguez’ piece, Borderless Dreams with flutist Juan Carlos Narváez on June 20th, 7pm, World Refugee Day, at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Maplewood, NJ.

Visit protestra.org to learn more and get tickets - all proceeds will benefit Cosecha New Jersey and , two organizations supporting immigrants and families of immigrants detained at Delaney Hall, an ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey.

We’ve added more orchestral and chamber music to our concert on Saturday, June 27, 2 PM at St. Paul & St. Andrew! 🎶 Titled “Founding Mothers,” the program will feature works by contemporary and historic American women composers in an effort to equalize the frequent gender imbalance of traditional July 4th concert programming.

Led by PROTESTRA Music Director and Founder Michelle Rofrano, and newly-appointed PROTESTRA Associate Conductor, Kamna Gupta, the concert will feature music by women from around the world who have shaped American history and culture. There will be two world premieres of works commissioned by the American Composers Forum as part of their multi-year Recomposing America initiative:

* “Matriarch” by PROTESTRA Associate Conductor Danielle Jagelski - written in honor of the knowledge systems created and sustained by the enduring wisdom of indigenous female leadership.

* “YELLFIRE” by JL Marlor - voice and electric guitar alongside the orchestra, exploring female rage becoming a force of transformation.

* “Allegro” by Nadia Boulanger, a composition professor who trained some of the most well-known American composers of the 20th century.

* “Sixth Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman” by Joan Tower

* “Pastorale” by Amy Beach

* “Umoja” (“Unity”) by renowned contemporary flutist and composer Valerie Coleman

* “Symphony No. 4” by Florence Price

For tickets and more info, visit protestra.org! We will donate proceeds to two NYC-based charities whose work supports and uplifts women and girls: Hour Children and Girls for Gender Equity.

Meet Teresa Castillo, Costa Rican-American Soprano Teresa Castillo has been hailed by the San Francisco Gate as a “standout, bringing [vocal] power and florid elegance,” and by Opera News for exhibiting “a clean, concentrated sound, and a lovely, intelligent musicianship.”

Ms. Castillo will be performing in Sheila Silver’s new song cycle set to on June 20th, 7pm, World Refugee Day, at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Maplewood, NJ alongside soprano Melissa Citro and pianist Francesco Barfoed.

Visit protestra.org to learn more and get tickets - all proceeds will benefit Cosecha New Jersey and , two organizations supporting immigrants and families of immigrants detained at Delaney Hall, an ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey.

Meet Melissa Citro, lead organizer and performer in our upcoming concert, Songs of Resilience. Melissa will be performing the world premiere of Sheila Silver’s song cycle “Songs of Resilience” alongside soprano Teresa Castillo and pianist Francesco Barfoed.

After visiting Delaney Hall in January 2026 and speaking with immigrant families and volunteers on the ground. Melissa Citro was moved to organize this benefit concert to support the urgent work of Cosecha and First Friends of NJ and NY.

For over 20 years, Ms. Citro has performed with major opera companies and orchestras across the United States and internationally. Now, she’s bringing her artistry to her own town of Maplewood, where she hopes to inspire others to take action in defense of immigrant communities.

Visit protestra.org to learn more and get tickets - all proceeds will benefit Cosecha New Jersey and , two organizations supporting immigrants and families of immigrants detained at Delaney Hall, an ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey.