Fund the Premiere Recording for The Library of Congress

Have you ever heard Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring?

Or Bartók’s Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta? ( you have , in the film “ The Shining”) What about Benjamin Britten’s opera Peter Grimes?

The grant that helped bring those masterpieces into the world is called the Serge Koussevitzky Commission Grant awarded by the Library of Congress.

And guess what ?

This year, I won.

With this grant, I’ve commissioned the extraordinary composer Don Byron to write a brand-new Cello Sonata, which I’ll be premiering with pianist Blair McMillen on August 3rd , 2025 ( yes , this summer! ) at the Maverick Concert Series in Woodstock , NY.

Now here’s where I need your help:

As part of our grant contract, we’re required to record the world premiere so it can be preserved alongside these historic works in the Library of Congress archives-embraced by these legendary works by Copland, Bartok, and Britten.

Unfortunately, Maverick does not have an in-house recording engineer, so we need to bring in a top-tier team to capture, mix and master the performance at the level it deserves. We are also working toward a professional release to share this stunning new work with the world.

Would you consider helping us make this happen?

Your contribution will help cover:

We are incredibly honored to bring this powerful new piece into the world- and want you to be part of this journey. We believe this sonata has the potential to become one of the great cello works of the 21st century, and we are very grateful for your support. This is a rare and meaningful opportunity to help bring a major new American composition to life- and to preserve it for generations to come.

Please consider contributing and sharing-we truly can't do it without you !

Special Thank-You for Donors at $2,500 and Above

As a gesture of heartfelt thanks, I’m offering a private house concert for donors contributing $2,500 or more.

Whether in your home or another meaningful setting, I’ll work with you to create an unforgettable experience featuring the Don Byron cello sonata and other beautiful works.

Thank you for believing in new music and being part of this moment.

Wendy Sutter, Cello

Blair McMillen, Piano

Don Byron, Clarinetist and Composer

Tickets for the premiere can be found here!

https://maverickconcerts.org/event/wendy-sutter-cello-with-blair-mcmillen-piano-maverick-chamber-music-festival/