PROTESTRA

Directions Website Contact the organization

PROTESTRA Orchestra bridging the divide between activism and classical music ✊🎶

PROTESTRA is an orchestra of activist musicians who use classical music to protest injustice and advocate for social change. We believe that the concert stage is a powerful platform, and that every concert is an opportunity to make an impact, catalyze discussion, build community, and challenge ourselves to take on the issues facing our world.

On Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 7:00 PM, just ahead of the U.S. midterm elections, PROTESTRA will take the stage at Roul...
09/22/2026

On Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 7:00 PM, just ahead of the U.S. midterm elections, PROTESTRA will take the stage at Roulette Intermedium in Brooklyn to present Opera for Revolution. This concert of operatic excerpts highlights urgent social issues, interrogates power structures in the U.S. government, and—in the spirit of “America at 250”—encourages audience members to embrace the revolutionary act of voting to protect the American ideals of freedom and equality.

Led by Music & Artistic Director Michelle Rofrano and Associate Conductor Kamna Gupta, the performance features an exciting roster of operatic soloists accompanied by the PROTESTRA Orchestra. Throughout history, composers have used opera’s unique combination of music and drama to hold up a mirror to society, often tackling themes of politics and national identity during times of social upheaval. This concert program honors and continues that legacy, ranging from beloved staples of the repertoire to contemporary works that explore modern issues. Highlights include memorable moments from Rossini’s William Tell, Puccini’s Tosca, Tesori’s Blue, Menotti’s The Consul, Beethoven’s Fidelio, Verdi’s Don Carlo, and more.

PROTESTRA will donate a portion of ticket proceeds to Acacia Center for Justice, a nonprofit organization that supports and partners with a national network of human rights defenders who provide legal defense to immigrants at risk of detention or deportation. In addition to raising funds for marginalized groups directly affected by voting outcomes, PROTESTRA also hopes to inspire increased civic engagement in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections by sharing educational materials for voters, beginning with a reminder that the voter registration deadline for local New York audiences is Saturday, October 24!

Visit the linktr.ee/protestra for tickets, our concert crowdfunding page for Acacia, voting resources, and more!

Awesome recent editing session with composer Raphael Fusco, audio engineer Adam Klein, and PROTESTRA music director Mich...
09/17/2026

Awesome recent editing session with composer Raphael Fusco, audio engineer Adam Klein, and PROTESTRA music director Michelle Rofrano! They've been working on editing Raphael's "Regina Caeli" that was recorded this past Spring. This will be the first recording released of this beautiful new piece, featuring soprano So-Chung Shinn, countertenor Siman Chung, and a fabulous roster of PROTESTRA string players. We're excited to share the final result with you all very soon... stay tuned!

Don't let Election Day sneak up on you! The 2026 U.S. Midterm Elections are closer than they appear, and there's nothing...
09/15/2026

Don't let Election Day sneak up on you! The 2026 U.S. Midterm Elections are closer than they appear, and there's nothing scarier than being unprepared to vote when the big day rolls around.

Today, September 15, is National Voter Registration Day - the perfect time to start making a plan and marking your calendar for important deadlines on the horizon. Visit the link in our bio to check your registration status and access resources that will set you up for success this election season!

AND — while you have your calendar open — be sure to block off the evening of Sunday, November 1st for the next BIG PROTESTRA CONCERT taking place in Downtown Brooklyn! We're going to be getting out the vote in a truly revolutionary way, and trust us — you are NOT going to want to miss it. Stay tuned for more details coming soon!

Thank you to all who joined us for our special Founding Mothers concert! What a thrill it was to premiere Danielle Jagel...
07/29/2026

Thank you to all who joined us for our special Founding Mothers concert! What a thrill it was to premiere Danielle Jagelski’s “Matriarch” and JL Marlor’s “YELLFIRE” in partnership with the American Composers Forum’s “Recomposing America” initiative. It’s not every day we get to debut TWO incredible new works, let alone perform a full concert program by women composers. Our sincere gratitude to everyone who played a part in this momentous and meaningful performance. May we continue to celebrate women as artists and leaders into America’s next 250 years!

Our crowdfunding campaign for two important NYC charities continues through this Friday, July 31: Hour Children, which provides support and services to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women and their families; and Girls for Gender Equity, which reshapes culture through youth-centered programming and advocacy for girls and gender-expansive youth. We were honored to be joined by guest speakers from both charities who shared more about their work.

We have raised just over $5,000 so far — we would love to get to $6,000 by the end of the week! Help us maximize the impact of this concert by donating and sharing the campaign page to help us spread the word - linktr.ee/PROTESTRA! Every dollar makes a difference.

06/27/2026

Ever since performing the 2nd movement of Florence Price’s Symphony No. 4 on our Concert for Black Lives back in 2020, we’ve dreamt of doing the full piece one day! 💭

Today is that day!!!

There’s still time to join us for Founding Mothers at St. Paul & St. Andrew if you run! We promise you will not be disappointed. Just listen to these beautiful clips from our rehearsals! 🎶

Our program honoring American women composers starts at 2pm. Walk-ins are welcome!

This isn’t your Father’s 4th of July! 🎆Founding Mothers | 6.27 @ 2PM 🚺263 W 86th St, New York, NY🎟️ protestra.orgAlso, d...
06/27/2026

This isn’t your Father’s 4th of July! 🎆

Founding Mothers | 6.27 @ 2PM 🚺
263 W 86th St, New York, NY
🎟️ protestra.org

Also, depending on where you’re joining us from, please plan ahead for possible local traffic and train schedule changes due to the World Cup match at MetLife stadium! 👀

Denied the same opportunities as her white male contemporaries, Florence Price boldly forged her own path composing, tea...
06/26/2026

Denied the same opportunities as her white male contemporaries, Florence Price boldly forged her own path composing, teaching music, playing organ, and building community.

Sadly (yet perhaps predictably), despite her trailblazing career, Price fell into obscurity after her death in 1953. Much of her music—including the Fourth Symphony—would have been forgotten forever if not for one couple who rediscovered a treasure trove of Price’s manuscripts.

We are proud to perform Symphony No. 4 on our upcoming concert, Founding Mothers. Join us tomorrow, Saturday, June 27 at 2 PM at St. Paul and St. Andrew United Methodist Church (263 W. 86th St.)! The program features works by contemporary and historic American women composers – including two world premieres! – in an effort to equalize the frequent gender imbalance of traditional July 4th concert programming.

Tickets are $30 for general admission and $10 for students. We will donate proceeds to two NYC-based charities whose work supports and uplifts women and girls: Hour Children and Girls for Gender Equity.

Nadia Boulanger - you may know her from teaching a man!Few musicians had such a wide reach and influence on twentieth ce...
06/24/2026

Nadia Boulanger - you may know her from teaching a man!

Few musicians had such a wide reach and influence on twentieth century music as Nadia Boulanger did. She was a composer, conductor, and most importantly, one of the most influential music teachers of the twentieth century.

Her many accomplishments include being the first woman to conduct the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. She taught the likes of Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, Louise Telma (her goddaughter) and many more. Boulanger played a pivotal role in shaping the sound of twentieth century American music through her mentorship of generations of composers.

Her influence is everywhere, and maybe it’s time we got better at saying her name and recognizing the lasting effect she has had. Spotted recently in a children’s book about Copland, it seems she was too important to omit, but apparently still too inconvenient to name! She is referred to simply as “Mademoiselle.” 😠

On Saturday, 6/27, PROTESTRA will be performing Boulanger’s Allegro for Orchestra, conducted by Kamna Gupta. By performing this piece we hope to celebrate her legacy, while bringing greater visibility to the rich and often under-represented legacy of women composers.

Tickets & more info at protestra.org 🎟️

Our concert tonight features the world premiere of Sheila Silver’s song cycle, Songs of Resilience, and a performance of...
06/20/2026

Our concert tonight features the world premiere of Sheila Silver’s song cycle, Songs of Resilience, and a performance of Arturo Rodriguez’ Borderless Dreams. for flute and piano.

100% of the concert proceeds will benefit Cosecha New Jersey and First Friends of NJ & NY, two organizations supporting immigrants and families of immigrants detained at Delaney Hall, an ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey.

We encourage you to follow these wonderful organizations and learn more about the work they’re doing for the local immigrant communities in NJ.

Visit protestra.org for tickets and more info about tonight’s concert - 7 PM at St. Georges Episcopal Church 📍

It’s been a busy June at PROTESTRA! We’re thrilled to be presenting 3 world premieres this month by 3 women composers li...
06/20/2026

It’s been a busy June at PROTESTRA! We’re thrilled to be presenting 3 world premieres this month by 3 women composers living and working in New York. The first one is happening tomorrow evening, 6.20.26 in Maplewood, New Jersey:

Acclaimed composer Sheila Silver’s new song cycle, Songs of Resilience, will receive its world premiere on World Refugee Day, 7:00 p.m. at St. George’s Episcopal Church. All proceeds from ticket sales will benefit organizations supporting immigrants and families of immigrants detained at Delaney Hall, an ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey. Beneficiaries include First Friends of NJ & NY and .

Next week, the centerpiece of our concert on 6.27.26 in NYC will be the premieres of new works by Danielle Jagelski and JL Marlor, in a star-studded program of trailblazers:

Titled Founding Mothers, the concert will feature works by contemporary and historic American women composers in an effort to equalize the frequent gender imbalance of traditional July 4th concert programming. PROTESTRA will donate proceeds to two NYC-based charities whose work supports and uplifts women and girls: Hour Children and Girls For Gender Equity (GGE).

For tickets and more info about these two concerts, including how to donate, visit protestra.org 🎟️

Address

510 E. 14th Street #312
New York, NY
10009

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when PROTESTRA posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to PROTESTRA:

Shortcuts

Sponsored

Share

Category