Poster Composer Gabriela Ortiz
With a new album, prestigious residencies and a star conductor championing her music, Mexican composer Gabriela Ortiz is finally getting the recognition she deserves.
Marta Arteaga
Extra Eclectic

Women at the forefront

Extra Eclectic - March 2, 2026

As Women’s History Month begins, Extra Eclectic celebrates how women represent the vanguard of contemporary classical music today — with two hours of stellar women composers, including selections from Caroline Shaw, Jennifer Higdon, Gabriela Ortiz, Anna Clyne, Reena Esmail, Sarah Kirkland Snider, Anna Thorvaldsdottir and more. Listen now with host Steve Seel!

Playlist

Heartbreaker
Missy Mazzoli
Michael Mizrahi, piano
New Amsterdam 75

Blueprint
Caroline Shaw
Aizuri Quartet
New Amsterdam 104

Viola Concerto
Jennifer Higdon
Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor
Nashville Symphony Orchestra
Roberto Diaz, viola
Naxos 559823

Revolucion diamantina: Todas
Gabriela Ortiz
Gustavo Dudamel, conductor
Los Angeles Phiharmonic Orchestra
LA Phil 2

Shorthand
Anna Clyne
The Knights
Avie 2555

Miniatures: A Piacere
Vivian Fung
Maia String Quartet
John Bruce Yeh, clarinet
Cedille 100

Daughter of the Waves
Sarah Kirkland Snider
yMusic
New Amsterdam 32

Cloud Atlas
Elena Ruehr
Gil Rose, conductor
Boston Modern Orchestra Project
Jennifer Kloetzel, cello
BMOP/sound 1039

The Light Is the Same
Reena Esmail
Imani Winds
Bright Shiny Things 1038

lumee’s dream (Nadia Sirota viola study)
Ellen Reid
Nadia Sirota, viola
London/Decca 2020

Reflections
Anna Thorvaldsdottir
International Contemporary Ensemble
Dorian 92227

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Latest Extra Eclectic Episodes

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Latest Extra Eclectic Episodes

Extra-musical elements

Extra-musical elements

On this episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ we hear works featuring unorthodox instruments and compositional approaches, including Echo Collective’s ‘Unknown Gates’ and Molly Joyce’s ‘It Has Not Taken Long for You to Break.’ Listen now with host Steve Seel!

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Rounds, canons and reflections

Rounds, canons and reflections

“Row, row, row your boat,” “Frere Jacques”: rounds are familiar to us all. Make a round a little more complex, and you might get a canon or a fugue. On the latest episode of Extra Eclectic, host Steve Seel explores a host of such works. Listen now!

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Feathered friends

Feathered friends

Get your binoculars out for this episode of ‘Extra Eclectic’! Host Steve Seel brings us two hours of new classical works about birds, including Jennifer Higdon’s ‘An Exaltation of Larks,’ John Luther Adams’ ‘Strange Birds Passing’ and Jocelyn Morlock’s ‘Oiseaux Bleus et Sauvages.’ Listen now!

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A spring meditation

A spring meditation

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Beats, Bach and Beethoven

Beats, Bach and Beethoven

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May the fourth

May the fourth

This annual “Star Wars Day” provides the inspiration for the latest episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ with works about space and stars. Steve Seel also pays tribute to composer Michael Harrison, who died on April 17, with a performance of his ‘Just Constellations.’ Listen now!

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Earth, teach me quiet

Earth, teach me quiet

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The natural world

The natural world

Host Steve Seel continues our celebration of Earth Month on Extra Eclectic with a nod to composers who are passionate about the protection of nature’s fragile ecosystems: Steven Stucky, Scott Lee, Gabriela Montero and more. Listen now!

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Celebrating Earth Month

Celebrating Earth Month

To celebrate Earth Month, host Steve Seel brings us modern works on themes of water on the latest episode of ‘Extra Eclectic,’ including Anna Clyne’s ‘Restless Oceans,’ Jake Runestad’s ‘Waves,’ and Maya Beiser’s setting of Olivier Messiaen’s ‘Water’ from his ‘Fete des Belles Eaux.’ Listen now!

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The passage of time

The passage of time

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