Whistling Hens and guest composer Sonia Morales-Matos present an open rehearsal of “Canciones de amor y soledad.” This composition was commissioned by Whistling Hens and written by Morales-Matos in 2025 for the festival. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the collaborative process as the ensemble and composer work together for the first time on the piece before its premiere on Monday, October 20, 2025.

Sonia Ivette Morales-Matos is a Puerto Rican composer, performer, and educator who belongs to a family of distinguished musicians. Her compositions explore a wide variety of styles and genres such as chamber music, the concerto, choral music, Latin Jazz, pop, sacred and/or contemporary Christian, and Latin or Tropical music. Whistling Hens® was founded by soprano Jennifer Piazza-Pick and clarinetist Natalie Groom to perform and commission music by women composers to create a financially and artistically equitable future for women in music. Since its founding in 2018, Whistling Hens has premiered 29 pieces and commissioned 14 compositions, 10 transcriptions, the Whistling Hens Women Composer Coloring Book, and inspired 17 dedicated works.

Events are supported in part by the COFAC Diversity & Inclusion Grant, the New Music Ensemble at Towson University and the Maryland State Arts Council. Learn more about MSAC’s great work at www.msac.org.  

September 12 - 24 - Enjoy the College of Liberal Arts Hispanic Heritage Film Festival 

Sunday, September 21, 3 p.m. - Música de cámara

Sunday, September 28, 3 p.m. - Bomba Workshop with Cultura Plenera: Rhythms of Puerto Rico 

Sunday, September 28, 4:30 p.m. - Afro-Puerto Rican Sounds with Cultura Plenera

Wednesday, October 8, 8 p.m.  - Deep Listening: The Story of Pauline Oliveros

Wednesday, October 15, 8 p.m. - Clarinet Studio Recital: Music by Latin American Composers

Saturday, October 18, 3 p.m. - The Making of “Canciones de amor y soledad”

Monday, October 20, 6 p.m. – Whistling Hens | Big Crass Monster

Tuesday, October 21, 6 p.m. - Student Composer Works Workshop

Wednesday, October 22, 2 p.m. - Guest Artist Masterclass with Sonia Morales-Matos

Thursday, October 23, 6 p.m. - Pre-Concert Talk with Sonia Morales-Matos

Thursday, October 23, 7:30 p.m. - TU Music Ensembles Celebrate Latin America