RESINOSA ENSEMBLE:
tOUCH THE HAND OF LOVE

The Resinosa Ensemble features Joëlle Morris, mezzo-soprano; Bridget Convey, piano; and Eliza Meyer, cello and combines a love of chamber music with offering innovative programing of music slightly off the beaten path.

A recipient of a Maine Arts Commission grant for the commissioning and recording of a seven-song cycle by Maine composer Daniel Sonenberg, the Resinosa Ensemble is a strong advocate of 21st century music, and has appeared in numerous chamber music series, including Colby College, Bates College, Bowdoin College, Eastport Arts Center, University of Southern Maine, University of Maine at Augusta, and the Back Cove Contemporary Music Festival in Portland, Maine.

For its 2025-2026 season, the Resinosa Ensemble will present the program Touch the Hand of Love, featuring the world premiere of Three Paintings by Maine composer Philip Carlsen. Philip selected poems by his wife, Franco-American poet Jeri Theriault, that were inspired by paintings of Marc Chagall, Andrew Wyeth, and Annette Lemieux. This program features a diverse collection of exquisite songs and instrumentals, exploring the depths of human love in its various forms.

The theme of love persists with the sensuous poetry of Tsu Yeh, elegantly set by Paul John Rudoi in Midnight Songs, alongside Losaida, My Love by 2024 Grammy winner Jessie Montgomery, whose music gracefully intertwines themes of social justice and the human experience.

The program is complemented by compositions from Barabara Strozzi, Chen Yi, Florence Price, Caroline Shaw, and a delightful arrangement of Blossom Dearie’s Touch the Hand of Love. The Resinosa Ensemble’s commitment to showcasing diverse musical styles and composers, particularly those historically excluded, is exemplified in this captivating lineup.

-PROGRAM-

Barbara Strozzi – Che si può fare mezzo-soprano, cello and piano
Florence Price – Summer Moon piano solo
Jessie Montgomery – Losaida, My Love mezzo-soprano and cello
Philip Carlsen – Moving Day cello and piano
Philip Carlsen – Three Paintings mezzo-soprano, cello and piano
Chen Yi – Romance of Hsiao and Ch’in cello and piano
Paul John Rudoi – Midnight Songs contralto, cello and piano
I. Restless, II. Steady, III. Poco Rubato
Caroline Shaw – Shenandoah cello and piano
Blossom Dearie – Touch the Hand of Love mezzo-soprano, cello and piano

-Performer’s Bios-

The Resinosa Ensemble is a chamber trio formed in 2016 featuring Joëlle Morris, mezzo-soprano; Bridget Convey, piano; and Eliza Meyer, cello. This ensemble came together out of a love for performing chamber music, working with living composers, and offering music slightly off the beaten path.
The Resinosa Ensemble has appeared in numerous chamber music series, including Colby College, Bates College, Bowdoin College, Eastport Arts Center, University of Southern Maine, University of Maine at Augusta, the concert series at UUCC of Augusta, First Fridays at First Parish, and the Back Cove Contemporary Music Festival in Portland, Maine.

A strong advocate of 21st century music, the ensemble has worked alongside American composers Tom Flaherty, Justin Henry Rubin, Paul John Rudoi, Beth Wiemann, Scott Wheeler and Joshua Jandreau. Close collaborations include commissioned works by Maine composers Daniel Sonenberg (USM), John Newell (Eastport), Marianna Filippi, Nancy Gunn (SMCC), and Richard Nelson (UMA).

Joëlle Morris, mezzo-soprano

Originally from Evian, France, Mezzo-Soprano Joëlle Morris has performed throughout Europe and the United States. She is admired for her versatility, from the concert stage to the operatic arena, in intimate jazz settings and French cabaret or simply sharing her gifts as a conductor, voice teacher, educator and coach.

Since relocating to Maine in 2011, Joëlle has appeared with the Bangor Symphony Orchestra, the Mozart Mentor Orchestra and is regularly a featured artist at Colby College, Bates College, Bowdoin College, the Franco Center, Waterville Opera House, Nordica Auditorium, the Colby Jazz Faculty Ensemble, King’s Chapel in Boston, the Back Cove Festival, VentiCordi Chamber Ensemble, and the Early Music Festival in Portland.

Her appreciation of chamber music has led her to be the co-founding member of the Amethyst Chamber Ensemble and the Resinosa Ensemble which specializes in 21st century and commissioned works.

In addition to a busy concert schedule in New England and annual summer appearances in France, Joëlle is a Lecturer and Director of Choir at Bates College. She can be reached via her website at www.joellemorris.com.

Eliza Meyer, cello:

Cellist Eliza Meyer performs regularly with chamber and orchestral ensembles around Maine, including the Portland and Bangor Symphonies. She teaches at UMaine Augusta and maintains a private teaching studio at her home in Vassalboro. Since moving to Maine in 2009, she has performed with White Mountain Musical Arts, Maine Pro Musica, Portland Ballet, Opera Maine, Maine Music Society, ChoralArt, and the Hancock Quartet.

She received her Bachelor of Music Degree and a Performer Diploma from the Indiana University School of Music, where she was a recipient of the Eva Heinitz Scholarship, and her Master of Music Degree from The Boston Conservatory, where she was a member of the Honors String Quartet and a winner of the String Idol contest.

Eliza was a core member of Ludovico Ensemble, a new music ensemble-in-residence at The Boston Conservatory, for five years, serving as its Artistic Director for two seasons. She has studied with Andrew Mark, Rhonda Rider, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, and Helga Winold.

Bridget Convey, piano:

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 Songs From Here, VentiCordi Chamber Ensemble; 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 and has a private piano studio in Central Maine.

“…the piano shining like a star, without dictating a thing…Convey realized the part perfectly.” – Christopher Hyde, Maine Classical Beat

“…words of praise are insufficient to acknowledge what Ms. Convey did on this program.” – Dr. Morton Gold, Journal Tribune

Run Time: 60 minutes, no intermission.