Composer-violinist Jessie Montgomery wrote Rhapsody No. 3 for the 2026 International Violin Competition of Indianapolis. Sixteen semifinalists perform it in recital as part of the competition’s longstanding commissioned-work tradition.
Rhapsody No. 3 is the commissioned work for the 2026 International Violin Competition of Indianapolis and is being performed by each of the 16 semifinalists in their full recitals.
Montgomery dedicated Rhapsody No. 3 to two of her violin teachers, Ann Setzer and Sally Thomas, and the piece carries the subtitle "The White Rabbit."
Who wrote the IVCI commissioned piece in 2026? Jessie Montgomery, a composer who also performs on the violin, composed Rhapsody No. 3 specifically for the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis (IVCI). The piece is being used in the semi-final round: each of the 16 semifinalists performs it as part of a full recital.
Why Montgomery? She already has a significant presence in contemporary programming. Works such as Strum, Banner, Hymn for Everyone, Starburst and Rounds (which won the 2024 Grammy for best composition) appear regularly in symphony and recital programs across the United States and internationally. Performers and presenters program her music because it tends to be musically direct, challenging to play in constructive ways, and carefully crafted for both performers and audiences.
The IVCI commission sits inside a long-running practice at the competition. Since the first IVCI in 1982, the competition has commissioned new works for its semi-final or final rounds. Composers on that list include John Harbison, William Bolcom, Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, Joan Tower, Bright Sheng, Richard Danielpour, Ned Rorem, Witold Lutoslawski, George Rochberg, Leon Kirchner and Joonas Kokkonen. Some of those commissioned pieces, such as Lutoslawski's Subito, have become part of the recital repertoire.
Dedication and subtitle. Montgomery dedicated the new work to two of her teachers, Ann Setzer and Sally Thomas. The piece also carries a subtitle, "The White Rabbit." In interviews leading up to the competition she discussed the dedication and the subtitle while explaining compositional choices and the joys and challenges of writing for violin.
What to watch for in performance. Expect technically demanding, idiomatic writing for violin that also carries specific expressive or narrative intent. Montgomery's pieces often combine rhythmic vitality, clear formal ideas and attention to the performer's craft, all of which shape how semifinalists approach interpretation and audience impact.
Bottom line: Rhapsody No. 3 is both a competition test piece and a new addition to Montgomery's catalogue, presented in a context that regularly introduces new works to the recital repertoire and to the broader field of violin performance.
By Laurie Niles: Violinists from all over the world will flock to Indiana next week for the 12th edition of the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis (IVCI) , starting Sept. 17 and running through October 4. "The Indianapolis" has taken place every four years since its founding by the great violinist and lon
By Laurie Niles: INDIANAPOLIS – Six violinists were named as Finalists in the 2026 International Violin Competition of Indianapolis (IVCI) on Monday, after four days of semi-final rounds, in which each of 16 semi-finalists performed a full recital that included 19th and 20th century works from the standard repertoire
INDIANAPOLIS — A new professional ensemble is launching its inaugural season with a concert designed to fund classical music programs for local children. Artistic Director Mikkel Daniels said the City Chamber Orchestra’s first performance will take place at 7 p.m. Sept. 24 at Indiana Landmarks. The event serves as the
Susanna Hancock and Seare Ahmad Farhat are the composers in the Louisville Orchestra’s Creator Corps this season.
Web: instagram.com/yangzhangmercuryorbitmusic Most recent: Quantum Prelude: The Evolution of the Universe Composer Yang Zhang’s debut large-scale orchestral work, “Quantum Prelude: The Evolution of the Universe,” grew out of a question about a single musical note and how it might be heard differently than expected. “It
Following her acclaimed 2023 self-titled debut and 2025’s If You Asked For a Picture, Blondshell once again demonstrates Sabrina Teitelbaum’s innate gift for pairing raw, unflinching lyrics with soaring, anthemic melodies.
Loading more related stories...
Open the app view to save this story, compare related coverage, and continue from the same source.