Help Create Premiere of Don Byron’s music with Wendy Sutter
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Help Premiere Don Byron’s New Work with Wendy Sutter & Blair McMillen
Be Part of a Musical Legacy
Imagine a groundbreaking new cello work by the legendary composer, Don Byron, waiting to be heard—but it can’t come to life without your support.
What you get as a Supporter
Join the other many generous donors who have already contributed to this exciting project and have your name included in the concert program on the premiere!
I’m Wendy Sutter, an internationally acclaimed cellist, and I’m on a mission to premiere a new commission for cello and piano by the extraordinary Don Byron. This work will debut on August 3, 2025, at the Maverick Concert Series in Woodstock, NY, followed by performances across the country. My longtime collaborator, renowned pianist Blair McMillen, will join me in bringing this music to life.
Why This Matters
Don Byron is one of the most versatile and influential composers of our time. His music defies genre, blending jazz, classical, and contemporary influences in ways that challenge and captivate audiences. His works, including The Tuskegee Experiments (honoring the Tuskegee Airmen) and the Pulitzer Prize-finalist Seven Etudes for Solo Piano, fuse musical brilliance with profound cultural and historical narratives.
Blair and I have had the privilege of collaborating with Don in multiple capacities:
I premiered Eugene with Don at Alice Tully Hall and performed Show Him Some Lub at Carnegie Hall as part of our collaboration on A Ballade for Many.
Blair has performed Don’s Seven Etudes for Solo Piano and premiered his Piano Quartet at Bargemusic.
Together, we believe this new work will become a cherished addition to the cello-piano repertoire for generations to come.
How You Can Help
We are raising $8,000 to directly support:
Commissioning Don Byron’s new composition
Performance and rehearsal costs
Artistic and production expenses
Every dollar makes a difference. Your contribution will help bring this music to life and ensure that audiences worldwide can experience its brilliance.
A Unique Opportunity: Become the Sole Supporter
For an exceptionally generous supporter who funds the remaining balance of the commission, ( $5,000 plus), we have an extraordinary offer:
The piece will be dedicated to you or to the person of your choice
Your name will be permanently associated with this work, ensuring your impact on the arts lives on for generations. If you’re interested in being the sole patron for this project, please reach out directly.
For Donations of $2,000
We will send you an autographed and framed copy of the Score
For Donations of $1,000
We will send you autographed copy of the CD
Join Us in Making This Premiere a Reality!
Great music exists because people believe in it. If you love innovative compositions, the cello, or the power of live performance, we invite you to be part of this journey.
With gratitude,
Wendy Sutter & Blair McMillen
More About Don Byron
Notable Works:
Seven Etudes for Solo Piano (2009) – Pulitzer Prize finalist
The Tuskegee Experiments (1992) – Tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen
Music for Six Musicians (1995) – Innovative jazz reimagination
Ivey-Divey (2004) – Grammy-nominated Best Jazz Instrumental Solo
Awards & Honors:
Rome Prize, American Academy in Rome (2009)
Pulitzer Prize finalist (Seven Etudes for Solo Piano, 2009)
Guggenheim Fellowship (2007)
Grammy Nomination (Ivey-Divey, 2005)
Watch Wendy & Don Byron Perform Together:
Winter Garden, World Financial Center
Learn More About the Maverick Concert Series
Organizer
Wendy Sutter
Organizer
New York, NY