Stone and Earth: Edward Cohen Memorial Concert

The Edward Cohen Memorial Concert celebrates the musical legacy of MIT composer Edward Cohen with a performance of his Stone and Earth for mezzo-soprano and string orchestra along with other works—including three world premieres—by his colleagues and students.

Charles Shadle: Song of Removal (2024)
1st performance

Marjorie Merryman: New Work (2026)
1st performance

Edward Cohen: Stone and Earth (1978)
Krista River, mezzo-soprano

John Harbison: Four Encores for Stan (2024)
1st performance of orchestral version
Krista River, narrator

Peter Child: Sinfonietta (1998)

Composer and MIT Senior Lecturer Edward Cohen was a vital part of Boston's new music scene in the years leading up to his premature death. This concert celebrates his legacy with a performance of his 1978 work Stone and Earth for mezzo-soprano and string orchestra.

The soloist will be Krista River, with the ensemble conducted with Cohen's long-time friend and collaborator, David Hoose.

Also on the program will be music by colleagues and students of Cohen, with premieres of pieces by Majorie Merryman, John Harbison, and Charles Shadle. The evening will conclude with Peter Child's 1998 Sinfonietta.

This performance is made possible through the Edward Cohen Memorial Fund.