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Commissioned Composer Invitation

Pam was recently invited to be Commissioned Composer for the New York State Music Teachers Association Conference in 2026. This new piece will combine double reed and string instruments, and will take place at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, NY. NYSMTA.

Premiere of Green Awakening at Symphony Center, Chicago

Pam's wind quintet Green Awakening (commissioned by, dedicated to and performed by the award-winning eco-music ensemble Englewinds) will receive its Chicago premiere in collaboration with the Chicago Civic Symphony. This is the Youth Climate Advocacy Project Culmination Concert; a joint initiative with In Our Hands.

To learn more about In Our Hands, see the attachment below.

Sunday, April 12, 2026 | 7:30-9pm

Symphony Center - Grainger Ballroom

220 S. Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL

In Our Hands Chamber Groups

SCHUBERT String Quartet No. 14 "Death and the Maiden", 1st mov.

Landon Thompson, Cora Jopa, violins

Mason Spencer, viola (from Civic Orchestra)

Vivien Lo, cello

BEETHOVEN String Quartet No. 4, 1st mov.

Harune Nagaya, violin

Jenny Choi, violin (from Civic Orchestra)

Dhruv Patari, viola

Jack Ho, cello

SKLAR Green Awakening

Andie Luangrath, flute

Charles Konczal, oboe

Ian Kim, clarinet

Shane Cheskis, bassoon

Erin Harrigan, horn (from Civic Orchestra)

Midwest Philharmonic Orchestra Taka Matsunaga, conductor

SHARP Optimism of the Will, Pessimism of the Intellect (MFAS Commission)

Premiere of New Composition, In Memoriam.

Pam's newest composition, for flute and violin, will be premired on December 14th, 2024, here in Westchester County, NY.

Transatlantic Dreams - World Premiere in Madrid: Dreaming in a Bed of Flowers

Transatlantic Dreams: Un concierto de intercambios entre Estados Unidos y España

International Institute > Agenda > Concerts > Transatlantic Dreams: A concert of exchanges between the United States and Spain

Join us on September 27th for a concert featuring a selection of music by American and Spanish composers, with pianist Isabel Dobarro, The flute-player Ruben Torres Melero, and the tenor Manuel Gomez Ruiz.

This concert builds artistic bridges between the United States and Spain through the music of some of the most representative composers of both countries, both 20th century and contemporary. A musical journey with works for flute, voice and piano by Sklar, Copland, Price, Llorca, Gil, Salvador, Soriano, Coleman and Megías. The programme includes some world premieres and pieces dedicated to the artists.

Program

Dreaming in a Bed of Flowers – Pamela Sklar (USA)

Old American Songs (Selection) – Aaron Copland (USA)

Clouds – Florence Price (USA)

The combat of the somni – Ricardo Llorca (Spain)

Cartagena 40 – Clara Gil (Spain)

Voices from another shore (Selection) – Matilde Salvador (Spain)

Self-portrait – Alexis Soriano (Spain)

Legends – Valerie Coleman (USA)

Three Tangos – Sonia Megías (Spain)

About the performers

La pianista Isabel Dobarro She holds a PhD from New York University. She began teaching there at the age of 19 as an Adjunct Instructor. Previous studies include a Professional Studies Degree at the Manhattan School of Music, a Master's Degree at New York University and a Higher Degree in Piano at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Madrid, as well as studies in international relations and law at Harvard University and IE University.

Isabel has developed her concert career in the United States, Spain, Germany, France, Russia, Belgium, Argentina, Italy and Portugal. Among her projects, the recovery of music by female composers is central.

Ruben Torres Melero He has developed his concert career in some of the most important auditoriums such as the Auditorio Nacional, Palau de la Música in Barcelona, Kursaal in San Sebastián or Hakuju Hall in Tokyo. His repertoire, which ranges from the Baroque to the present day, includes premieres such as the Rondo for an Estate by Teresa Catalán, performed for the first time at the Palau de la Música Catalana together with the Barcelona Solidarity Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Clàudia Dubé Oranías.

In addition to his career as a performer, Rubén stands out in the field of pedagogy, having taught both in Spain and abroad. Likewise, Rubén's commitment to social action has led him to collaborate with projects in favor of Alzheimer's patients, people in social exclusion, among others, together with different chamber ensembles and with the Mataró Orchestra, of which he is the principal flute, soloist and assistant director.

Manuel Gomez Ruiz, trained at the Hochschule für Musik "Hanns Eisler" with Anneliese Fried and at the Universität der Künste with the tenor Robert Gambill. The tenor has sung in numerous European halls and was invited by the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Joachim Gauck, to perform at the official residence Schloss Bellevue, and by UEFA to sing the anthem at the Champions League final in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.

Manuel has been awarded the Richard Wagner Verband Berlin – Brandenburg, Deutschlandstipendium, and Leonardo Scholarship from the BBVA Foundation; and the 2015 Joven Canarias Awards from the Government of the Canary Islands and the 2017 Gran Canaria Award in the Music category from the Royal Economic Society of Friends of the Country of Gran Canaria.

Event Details

Date:September 27, 2024
Time:8: 00 pm - 9: 00 pm
Capacity:200
Classroom:Auditorium

Recent and Upcoming Performances of Pam's Compositions

Following the recent and exciting August premiere of Pam's new trio Renaissance Tales and a Playful Joust (oboe and two English horns) played by Threeds in Lake George, this trio has twice recorded two other works by Pam (on Threeds' 2nd album Pallette and Pam's second album Silver Pharaoh).

Upcoming performances of Pam's commissioned compositions include her Two Journeys/Third Eye & The Inward Journey which will be co-featured by Eight Strings & a Whistle (flute, viola, cello) at the Greenburgh Public Library, NY, on October 8th. This will be the ensemble's eighth (ninth?) performance of these works. As well, they can be heard on 8SW's recording "...and Nothing Remains the Same..."

Pam's high-powered new work Down the Rabbit Hole (flute/picc, bass clarinet, piano) will be premiered by Palisades Virtuosi in Ridgewood, New Jersey on Nov 5th. This expressive and dynamic trio is perfect for this piece!

A new flute and piano composition - Dreaming in a Bed of Flowers was just completed yesterday!

STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES

* Photo of Threeds: Katie Scheele/English horn, Pam, Kathy Halvorson/oboe, Mark Snyder, English horn *

Eight Strings & a Whistle: Suzanne Gilchrest/flute, Ina Litera/viola, Matt Goeke/cello.

Palisades Virtuosi: Margaret Swinchoski/flute & picc, Don Mokrynski/ bass clarinet, Ron Levy/piano.

UMOJA Premiere, December 3rd, 2022.

Pamela Sklar's unaccompanied flute solo, Umoja (Unity in Swahili), is a tribute to peoples globally, especially to those who face situations of much opposition and discord. Umoja is one of the seven symbols of Kwanzaa *, an African harvest festival tradition celebrated in various parts of West and Southeast Africa. The meaning of Umoja inspired Pam to write this music.

* Founded by Maulana Karenga. https://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/ *

Umoja was premiered by Pamela Sklar, flutist and composer in a program performed by Pamela (flute and Native American flute) and Joyce Rasmussen Balint (mandolin and violin) on December 3rd, 2022.

2022 Arts Alive Award winner from ArtsWestchester for Words into Music, Part 2

Following the success and interest in her original Words into Music (Part 1) award-winning project, Pamela just recently received an ArtsWestchester Arts Alive award to compose and perform Words into Music, Part 2. This new, second project will begin with interviews given by Pam with individual Port Chester community members, and newly created music inspired by their feelings and experiences. In collaboration with the Port Chester Historical Society, her project will also co-feature spoken educational and historical components given by the three musicians along with their performance, which will take place in Port Chester in 2023.

Flute 360 Podcast

Exciting to talk with host and creator of the Flute 360 Podcast Episode 155 with Heidi Kay Begay. So much to talk about!

New York Times Obituary of Claude Bolling, with quotes by Pamela.

Claude Bolling Obit in the New York Times, with Pamela's quotes. January 9, 2021:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/09/arts/music/claude-bolling-jazzman-dies.html

Virtual Premiere of Words into Music

Pamela Sklar’s original project Words into Music received an award from ArtsWestchester. Composed in 2020, this piece was inspired by Pam's conversations with more than forty individuals from Mount Vernon, NY, who shared stories about family situations, community issues and personal struggles. Their shared soulful emotions gave Pam powerful material to create with. Musicians: Pamela Sklar, Native American flute, silver flute and bass flute. Jim Ferraiuolo, oboe and English horn. Enid Blount Press, clarinet and bass clarinet. Recorded at St Paul’s Church National Historic Site in Mt Vernon, New York, on September 27th, 2020, this is the virtual premiere.