On Sunday, March 22, the New Mexico Women Composers' Guild will present its annual concert featuring eleven works by seven members from the Guild. The theme for the program will be COLLAGE: Friends Old and New. The selections range through a variety of musical styles by New Mexico composers Karen Cunningham, Jane Ellen, Billie Ferrell, Joanne Forman, Mollie O'Meara, Adelina Timofeyew, and Jane Viemeister.

In addition to the original new music, poetry and other literature readings will be interspersed by members of the National League of Pen Women (from the Albuquerque branch and the Yucca branch), and paintings which represent each piece and created by artists from the Pen Women will be displayed during the performance of each work. Also featured on this concert will be interactive musical sculpture by Paul Beck and Karen Cunningham. Other art work and literature will be for sale after the concert.

The New Mexico Women Composers' Guild grew out of performances of music by local women at concerts of the Albuqerque Music Club of the 1970's. Although there was a flourishing composers' circle in Albuquerque, some of the women felt that the men didn't have much respect for women composers, and forming a women's group was an effective way of encouraging women's talents. The Guild began by giving annual showcase concerts at UNM's Keller Hall. Several of these won awards for programming from the National Federation of Music Clubs. The New Mexico Arts Division has awarded the Guild grants to fund four-city and five-city tours to smaller towns. Currently the Guild boasts over twenty members of varying backgrounds and composing styles. Some of the Guild members have had international performances, and several have compositions published.

nb: Biographies of other composers omitted

Jane Ellen is a national award-winning member of ASCAP and currently serves as parish organist at Our Lady of the Annunciation Church. Jane has received commissions from the American Guild of Organists, New Music Across America, the New Mexico Quincentenary Celebration and the New Mexico Women Composers' Guild. Her compositions include vocal and choral as well as instrumental music. Her music is published by Linen Press, Shawnee Press, Kjos Music, Heritage Music and Myklas Music Press.