Penelope presented by TURNmusic, ft. Mary Bonhag
Reflection and Resilience
This concert explores the emotional depth, strength, and transformation of women navigating the passage of time. Our program brings together works that tell stories of waiting and longing, but also of resilience and reinvention—of women who have put their lives on hold and those who have found ways to make them sustainable.
First, we step into the shimmering worlds of Bridgerton and Queen Charlotte, where familiar modern melodies take on new life through the elegance of a string quartet. The
selections—Wildest Dreams by Taylor Swift, POV by Ariana Grande, and Nobody Gets Me by SZA—offer a different perspective on love, longing, and self-preservation. These songs, transformed into classical string quartet arrangements, remind us that while some women may find themselves waiting, others are carving out space for their own stories, reimagining what love and fulfillment look like on their own terms.
Penelope by Sarah Kirkland Snider, is a song cycle that reimagines Homer’s Odyssey through the perspective of a woman left behind. In this modern retelling, Penelope is not just waiting—she is remembering, questioning, and ultimately reclaiming her own identity. Through Snider’s richly textured music and poetic lyricism, we experience the weight of time and the ache of uncertainty, but also the quiet strength of a woman finding her voice. TURNmusic is thrilled to perform Penelope again this May and feature the versatile voice of Vermont soprano, Mary Bonhag.
Soprano, Mary Bonhag
Violins, Mary Rowell & Brooke Quiggins
Viola, Elizabeth Reid
Cello, John Dunlop
Bass, Nicholas Browne
Guitar, Geoff Kim
Percussion, Jane Boxall
Laptop/Live Electronics, Katie Semro
Conductor, Anne Decker
Mary Bonhag is an “extraordinary” singer (Classical Voice N. America) committed to the healing powers of song. She is both a new-music specialist and a singer deeply devoted to sacred music across the ages. Mary was featured on Resonant Bodies Festival, and has sung with 21st Century Consort, and San Francisco Contemporary Players. Mary recently premiered a new chamber opera by Susan Botti, River Spirits, an allegorical tale featuring Mary, Susan Botti, and Lucy Shelton.
Mary is sought after for her impeccable musicianship and “supple expressive voice” (San Antonio News) for concert work, specializing in the sacred music of J.S. Bach.
Barre Opera House art installation by painter Arthur Zorn. Arthur Zorn is a self-taught abstract impressionist who largely works with acrylic paint, found objects, and interdisciplinary mediums including music and film. His small and large-scale paintings depict deconstructed landscapes, abstracted natural objects, and emotions transcribed on the canvas. Although he was interested in the visual arts as a child (b. 1954) in the Bronx, it wasn’t until he was established in his career in music education and performance in Vermont (Lyndon State College, B.S.) that he began to experiment with artistic expression outside of the music he composed. Zorn’s first solo visual art show, aptly named “Improvisations,” took place in 2004 at the Bundy Gallery in Waitsfield, VT. Zorn collaborates with private collectors who have commissioned original paintings and murals, and his paintings are housed in private collections throughout the United States including California, Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, New York, Texas, and Vermont. Zorn resides at his art studio in Barre, VT.
