Projects

Debut Album: Seasons of Change

OUT Ensemble’s first album explores the seasons through the lens of queer composers. Samuel Barber’s quintessential Summer Music pairs with Jennifer Higdon’s Autumn Music to explore the varying textures of wind quintet. Two new commissions by Nora Farley and Mattie Levy delve into the colors of spring and winter, concluding the sonic experience of the seasons. To be released in mid-2026.

World Pride 2026

This August, OUT Ensemble travels to Amsterdam for their international debut at the 2026 World Pride celebrations. Performing music from their debut album as well as pop tunes and original arrangements, OUT is excited to return to World Pride for the second year in a row.

Second Annual Pride Concert Series

OUT Ensemble continues their Pride Concert Series next June with the tour of their new album, Seasons of Change. The ensemble will present six concerts across the state of Michigan, offering performances in both concert halls and community venues as they share a variety of classical and pop tunes. Visit the “Events” page for more details.

Crescendo Detroit

On February 7th, 2026, OUT Ensemble will offer an interactive performance for students of the Crescendo Detroit program. Featuring music from their upcoming album, the 45-minute event will educate students about the roles of each instrument in the wind quintet and imagine how their unique sounds might combine to evoke each of the seasons.

Queer and Now Concert Series

In celebration of LGBTQ+ history month, OUT Ensemble premiered their first commission, Dreaming in Color, composed by fellow University of Michigan student Mary Denney. Highlighting the resilience of the queer community, the concerts took place at Uplift and the Ann Arbor District Library.

First Annual Pride Concert Series

From June 1st through 5th 2025, OUT Ensemble traveled to Washington, D.C. to perform a series of concerts during the World Pride celebrations in the city. There, OUT Ensemble premiered Dominick DiOrio’s Our Wildest Imagining with the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C., performed at a reception for the Human Rights Conference, and participated as members of the International Pride Orchestra for both their chamber concert and their performance at the Strathmore Music Center. The event featured pianist Sara Davis Buechner, violinist Thorgy Thor, and conductors Robert Moody, Bonnie Alger and Michael Roest.

Threads Woven Concert

Composer Rj Dion organized the Threads Woven concert as a resource fair for the University of Michigan community to learn more about LGBTQ+ mental health resources. OUT Ensemble premiered his work my moment passed in collaboration with the Lauren Blair Smith Dance Company.

Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum Collaboration

As their first community venture, OUT Ensemble presented La cheminée du roi René by Darius Milhaud at a children’s event hosted by the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum. An instrument petting zoo followed the performance, which was a partnership with the Berlin Philharmonic Brass Quartet.