About Us

The Songs From Here initiative was founded in the fall of 2021 and emerged from a desire to engage the wider Maine community with the creation and performance of art song. We aim to create safe and welcoming collaborative environments and increase the visibility of Maine-made music through high-quality performances and hands-on educational programs. Our work is rooted in supporting song composers of today and tomorrow through the commission of new works by Maine-based composers and the education of Maine’s student musicians.

….but what’s art song?

An art song is a piece of vocal music, usually written for one voice with piano, often a musical setting of a poem. Late in the 18th century, folks wanted to enjoy music at home, but didn’t have the means to hire musicians whenever they wanted…but they could afford a piano. People learned to play and sing to keep themselves entertained, gradually opening up their homes to fellow singers, pianists, composers and music-lovers creating what’s known as a “Liederabend” (song-evening), in which folks could share, discuss, and celebrate song in a comfortable, welcoming setting. Songs From Here seeks to recreate the warmth of the Liederabend experience in our performances and residencies.

Performances

"Songs from Here is a cross-pollination of beautiful, artistic ideas. It weaves local writings and songs into a lovely performance."  - Mohamed Alghanami, Maine poet & author

Songs From Here connects local composers, performers, and poets with one another through the commission of new art song. We lend further support by sharing these works in concert, and inviting poets to participate in our performances by reading their poetry.

Our Maine-based musicians are your friends, neighbors, teachers, and family. It is our hope that you see us as an reflection of the Maine community, and that you walk away from our performances feeling more connected to the beauty and character of our state, more inspired to create something of your own.

In our inaugural season in the summer of 2022, Songs From Here traveled around the state bringing our recital series to concert halls and churches, granges and barns. Each season will bring with it new music and new opportunities to collaborate! If you’re interested in bringing Songs From Here to your area of Maine, or finding out more about what we do, please do get in touch, we’d love to hear from you!

"Songs From Here brings together music and poetry in a way I've never seen before in Maine. The project is collaborative and inclusive, and seeks to connect with audiences all over the state. As a poet, it was a joy to experience the synergy that happens when artistic disciplines speak to each other on the same stage."

- Jefferson Navicky , award-winning poet & archivist, SFH ‘22 participating poet

Music Education Residencies

Songs From Here residencies are built to promote confidence, curiosity, and authenticity in student musicians and poets across Maine, helping them to feel empowered in their creative work. Our core team includes a singer, pianist, and composer who work with students to develop an understanding of poetic and musical forms, provide tools for songwriting and musicianship, and oversee group work as students craft their own songs. Our residency program is focused on fostering confidence in each student and a passion for lifelong creativity.

Our first residency took place in November of 2022 with Waterville Public Schools through Greene Block + Studios. The Songs From Here team worked with students in Music and English classes, and the residency culminated in a performance of original student-written songs and poetry. We’re looking forward to expanding our residency program to serve more Maine student musicians in the years to come! If you’re interested in bringing a Songs From Here residency to your area of Maine, or you want to learn more, you can connect with us here. We’d love to be in touch!

“Songs From Here was a joy to bring to the Waterville community. Their residency in Waterville High School catalyzed original poetry and song and gave burgeoning poets and musicians the opportunity to learn from and perform alongside professional artists. Their skills as performers and educators created one of the most meaningful concert experiences, highlighting the richness of artistry of Maine.”

-Tyler French, Greene Block + Studios

Create Here. Learn Here. Be Welcome Here.

Meet the Team

  • BRIDGET CONVEY

    Pianist

    A musician who enjoys performing music of our time, pianist Bridget Convey has found much fulfillment in collaborating with living composers. She has been fortunate to work with composers such as Morton Subotnick, Mel Powell, James Tenney, Daniel Sonenberg, Vineet Shende, Elliott Schwartz, John Newell, and many others.

    As a soloist and ensemble musician, Bridget has been heard at venues such as Lincoln Center (NYC); Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (Los Angeles, CA); Ojai Music Festival (CA); Maybeck Performing Arts Studio (Berkeley, CA); Percussive Arts Society International Convention (Columbus, OH); among many others. She received her Diploma from Mannes College of Music, NYC (Pre-college Division) 1989; BFA from State University of New York at Purchase 1993; and MFA from the California Institute of the Arts 1997.

    Bridget performs regularly with the VentiCordi Chamber Ensemble; Maine Music Society; and is co-founder/director of the Resinosa Ensemble, with Joëlle Morris (mezzo-soprano) and Eliza Meyer (cello). She can be heard on Navona, Cuneiform, Independent and Nataraja labels. Bridget serves as adjunct piano faculty at Bates College, Bay Chamber Music School and has a private piano studio in Central Maine.

  • SARAH TUTTLE

    Founder & Director

    Sarah Tuttle is an inquisitive classical singer committed to authentic connection and generous storytelling. Beginning her musical study as a pianist with a deep interest in music theory, the intimacy and individuality of human voices lead her to pursue degrees in music and later a career in performance that took her overseas.

    From Wagner roles to contemporary opera, chamber music to art song, world premieres to masterworks of the past, performances have been praised for their "fine balance of energy and introspection." (The Wall Street Journal)

    Committed to contemporary vocal music and collaboration with composers, Sarah is delighted to have participated in the creation of new works. She gave the world premiere performances of John Harbison's  Seven Poems of Lorine Niedecker and Avner Dorman’s  Letters from Gettysburg, a work commissioned for the 150th anniversary of the Civil War battle. Shortly after the pandemic lockdown began in 2020, Sarah collaborated with award-winning composer Ed Nesbit and ethnomusicologist Thomas Hodgson on  Aenigmata,  a project featuring musical settings of riddles penned by St Aldhelm, a 7th-Century saint and scholar.

    Sarah holds a Masters degree from the Bard Graduate Vocal Arts Program at Bard College, and a Bachelors degree from the Sunderman Conservatory of Music at Gettysburg College. She is also proud to have spent two summers as a Vocal Fellow with the Tanglewood Music Center, from whom she received the Grace B. Jackson Prize for Excellence in the summer of 2015. She makes her home in the West End neighborhood of Portland, Maine.

  • ERICA BALL

    Composer in Residence

    Translating everyday life into music is at the heart of Erica’s whimsical and playful works. Inspired by the natural world, a childhood spent dreaming of becoming a ballerina, and studies of 20th-century American avant-garde music, Erica is equally at home writing lyrical melodies that sweep across an orchestra and collaborating with animators and circus dancers. With an affinity for layered complexity, Erica’s music portrays clouds building up on the horizon as a summer thunderstorm approaches or the busy sounds of passengers in a subway station.

    Ball’s music has been performed by numerous ensembles including the Da Capo Chamber Players, the Daedalus Quartet, pianist Blair McMillen, Network for New Music, and the American Symphony Orchestra. Her works have been heard across the country in Chicago, Boston, New York and Philadelphia, and internationally in Germany and New Zealand. Recent commissions include Riding the EL and The Spotted Lanternfly for Relâche, Woodland Preludes for solo piano which was commissioned by a consortium of pianists, and of course songs for Songs From Here. In addition to her work as a composer, Erica remains active as a violinist, pianist, and educator with a special interest in bringing contemporary music to new audiences.

    Erica received her PhD in music composition from the University of Pennsylvania where she studied with Anna Weesner, the late Jim Primosch, and Jay Reise. Other institutions of music learning that hold significance in Erica’s life include Bard College and the incredible Joan Tower, The Walden School’s Young Musicians Program, and Greenwood Music Camp. Erica resides in Portland, Maine with her cats, Presto and Allegro, and maintains an active teaching studio.