Bio
Monica Pearce is an arts administrator, concert presenter, and composer specializing in opera, chamber music and everything toy-piano-related. Pearce’s work has been performed by numerous orchestras and ensembles across North America, including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, International Contemporary Ensemble, Array Ensemble, and Bicycle Opera Project. She was born in Prince Edward Island, began her professional career in Toronto, and recently relocated to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where is working on a feature-length chamber piece entitled Textile Fantasies. Monica co-founded the emerging composer collective the Toy Piano Composers in 2008 with Chris Thornborrow. The Toy Piano Composers have presented over 120 new works and released their debut album Toy Piano Composers in 2017. Her operas have been performed across Canada and the United States. She is also active as a librettist and is currently working with Cecilia Livingston on a song cycle on the life of Anne Frank entitled Singing Only Softly.
List of Works
Chamber Works
leather (2018) – piano and percussion (8′). Written for Ben Reimer (premiere 2019).
velvet (2017) – marimba quartet (8′).
Written for the Sam Houston Percussion Ensemble (premiere 2019).
denim (2017) – two toy pianos and two percussionists (8′)
Written for Chamber Cartel (premiere 2018).
Nightmusic (2017) – voice, bass clarinet, harp, viola, synth (5′)
Commissioned by Cluster Festival for Grimes: Reimagined and performed by Plumes Ensemble.
damask (2016) – toy piano and tabla (8′)
Written for Xenia Pestova and Shawn Mativetsky, commissioned through the Ontario Arts Council.
chain maille (2015) – percussion quartet (8′)
Written for Sam Houston Percussion Ensemble under the direction of John Lane.
cognitive dissonance (2014) – violin, piano, and oxblood (amplified springs) (9′)
Written for the Thin Edge New Music Collective.
basement apartments (2013) – for double bass and piano (7′)
Commissioned by the Canadian Music Centre’s New Music for Young Musicians Project through the Norman Burgess Fund.
it plays (because it plays) (2013) – six-hand piano trio and electronics (10′)
Written for the junctQin keyboard collective through the Toronto Emerging Composer Award.
microexpressions (2013) – alto trombone and piano (8′)
Written for Dale Sorensen, with support from the Toronto Arts Council.
connotations (2013) – flute, clarinet, toy piano, violin and cello (12′)
Written for Ensemble Paramirabo/Toy Piano Composers.
In the forest, glow. (2012) – bass clarinet, piano and percussion (8′)
Written for the Toy Piano Composers. Recorded by Musikon Concerts.
passive aggressive – defensive – contempt – stonewalling (2012) – flute, clarinet, piano, violin and double bass (9′)
Written for the Toy Piano Composers.
Girl before a Mirror (2012) – clarinet, trumpet, piano/toy piano, percussion, violin and double bass (14′)
Written for the Array Ensemble.
Chess Suite (2011) – two toy pianos (9′) written for the junctQin keyboard collective.
epilogue (2011) – electric guitar quartet (10′) written for the Toy Piano Composers.
(the journal) (2007/2009) – flute(s), clarinet, bass clarinet, piano, percussion, violin(s), viola, cello and double bass(es) (11’) MMus thesis.
follow the bliss (2009) – bass clarinet, piano, double bass, and two percussionists (9′)
Written for Digital Prowess/Toy Piano Composers.
sweetie pie (a letter to gabriel faure) (2008) – two pianos, two toy pianos (6′)
Written for the Toy Piano Composers.
Operas
April (2016) – one act opera; soprano, mezzo, tenor, clarinet, violin, and piano, (17′)
Written for the Toy Piano Composers/Bicycle Opera Project. Libretto by Monica Pearce.
Persephone (2015) – one act opera; two mezzos, tenor, piano (15′)
Written for New Fangled Opera. Libretto by Traix Heiden.
Etiquette (2014) – one act opera; two sopranos, mezzo, clarinet, piano (20′)
Commissioned by Essential Opera. Libretto by John Terauds.
Aunt Helen (2012) – opera for solo soprano and piano (11′)
Written for Maureen Batt for Opera from Scratch. Libretto by Monica Pearce/Helen Creighton.
Cake (2011) – operetta for soprano, mezzo soprano, baritone, flute and piano (15′)
Written for the Toy Piano Composers. Libretto by Monica Pearce.
Toy Piano Works
denim (2017) – two toy pianos and two percussionists (8′)
Written for Chamber Cartel (premiere 2018).
damask (2016) – toy piano and tabla (8′)
Written for Xenia Pestova and Shawn Mativetsky, commissioned through the Ontario Arts Council.
Kandinsky (2016) – soprano and toy piano (3’)
Commissioned by the Riot Ensemble, premiered by ICE/New Music Detroit
clangor (2013) – toy piano and bicycle bells (6′)
Written for the UnCaged Toy Piano Festival in NYC, premiered by Margaret Leng Tan.
smart aleck (2011) – toy piano (5′) Written for Pascal Meyer.
connotations (2013) – flute, clarinet, toy piano, violin and cello (12′)
Written for Ensemble Paramirabo.
the bliss of fatigue (2007/2014) – voice, toy piano and tape (single performer).
Girl before a Mirror (2012) – clarinet, trumpet, piano/toy piano, percussion, violin and double bass (14′)
written for the Array Ensemble.
Chess Suite (2011) – two toy pianos, 9′, written for the junctQin keyboard collective.
Vocal works
The Flag (2018) – soprano and piano. Winner of the Creative Women at the end of the First World War Composition Competition. (premiere 2018).
Kandinsky (2016) – soprano and toy piano (3′)
Commissioned by the Riot Ensemble, premiered by ICE/New Music Detroit. Text by Wassily Kandinsky.
Works for Regent Park Songbook (2016), commissioned by the Regent Park School of Music
Jungle of Nerves (2016) – soprano and piano (4’30)
I can see my future (2016) – soprano and piano (3′)
Light and darkness (2016) – baritone and piano (2’30”)
April (2016) – one act opera; soprano, mezzo, tenor, clarinet, violin, and piano (17′)
Written for the Toy Piano Composers/Bicycle Opera Project. Libretto by Monica Pearce.
Persephone (2015) – one act opera; two mezzos, tenor, piano (15′)
Written for New Fangled Opera. Libretto by Traix Heiden.
Leda Songs – song cycle (2015) – mezzo, clarinet, violin, viola, cello (15′)
Commissioned by the Talisker Players. Poetry by Rilke, Lawrence, H.D.
Etiquette (2014) – one act opera, two sopranos, mezzo, clarinet, piano, (20′)
Commissioned by Essential Opera. Libretto by John Terauds.
I’ll tell you how (2012) – SSA choir, flute and piano (4′) Poetry by Emily Dickinson.
Aunt Helen (2012) – opera for solo soprano and piano (11′)
Written for Maureen Batt for Opera from Scratch. Libretto by Monica Pearce/Helen Creighton.
You Know Me (2012) – SSA choir and chamber orchestra. Poetry by Gwendolyn MacEwen.
Cake (2011) – operetta for soprano, mezzo soprano, baritone, flute and piano (15′)
Written for the Toy Piano Composers. Libretto by Monica Pearce.
Emily Songs (2010) – soprano and piano (10′). Poetry by Emily Dickinson.
The Opening Number (2010) – two sopranos and piano. Lyrics by Monica Pearce.
Welcome to Laura’s (2010) – mezzo-soprano, baritone, piano and 2 actors
Written for the Toy Piano Composers. Libretto by Monica Pearce.
Three songs on an anonymous poet (2005) – baritone and piano.
Solo Works
toile de jouy (2018) – solo harpsichord (8′)
Written for Wesley Shen, commissioned by the Canada Council for the Arts
The Music is Not the End (2017) – solo piano (1′)
Written for Barbara Pritchard and dedicated to Michael Parker.
houndstooth (2016) – solo piano (8′)
Written for and dedicated to Barbara Pritchard. Presented by Musikon Concerts.
clangor (2013) – toy piano and bicycle bells (6′)
Written for the UnCaged Toy Piano Festival in NYC, premiered by Margaret Leng Tan.
detach (2016) – harp (7′)
Commissioned by Angela Schwarzkopf through the American Harp Society. Presented by Caution Tape Collective.
attach (2014) – harp (7′) written for Angela Schwarzkopf for the Toy Piano Composers.
smart aleck (2011) – toy piano (5′) written for Pascal Meyer.
fulcrum (2005) – piano (8′)
Wit (2005) – trombone (3′)
Works for Young Musicians
Works for Regent Park Songbook (2016), commissioned by the Regent Park School of Music
Jungle of Nerves (2016) – soprano and piano (4’30)
I can see my future (2016) – soprano and piano (3′)
Light and darkness (2016) – baritone and piano (2’30”)
basement apartments (2013) – for double bass and piano (7′)
commissioned by the Canadian Music Centre’s New Music for Young Musicians Project through the Norman Burgess Fund.
Let them Howl (2017) – for wind band (grade 1.5) (3′)
Commissioned by Agnes MacPhail Elementary School under the direction of Charles Glasspool.
vivid (2014) – for wind band (grade 1.5) (3′)
Commissioned by the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (Canada) in partnership with the University of Ottawa. Premiered by the Hawthorne Public School Junior Band, Ottawa, Ontario, with Stephanie Buttemer, Music Director.
Large Ensemble works
whirly (2017) – for percussion quartet and orchestra (4′)
Commissioned by the TorQ Percussion Quartet through the Ontario Arts Council. Premiere in 2018.
Let them Howl (2017) – for wind band (grade 1.5) (3′)
Commissioned by Agnes MacPhail Elementary School under the direction of Charles Glasspool.
vivid (2014) – for wind band (grade 1.5) (3′)
Commissioned by the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (Canada) in partnership with the University of Ottawa. Premiered by the Hawthorne Public School Junior Band, Ottawa, Ontario, with Stephanie Buttemer, Music Director.
Masquerade (2010) – toy piano and orchestra (10′)
Written for the Sneak Peek Orchestra/Toy Piano Composers.
Electroacoustic works
divertimento (2014) – iPhones, amplified music box and electronics (10′)
Commissioned by the University of Scranton under the direction of Anthony T. Marasco.
Sounds of Sackville (2014) – soundscape (10′)
Written for the O.K. Quoi?! festival in Sackville, New Brunswick.
cognitive dissonance (2014) – violin, piano, and oxblood (amplified springs) (9′)
Written for the Thin Edge New Music Collective.
trampled, static, bloom (2007) – acoustic guitar, electric guitar and tape (8′)
Written for the Canadian Contemporary Music Workshop, performed by Rob MacDonald.
the bliss of fatigue (2007/2014)- voice, toy piano and tape (single performer).
imaginary moments (2006) – piano and tape.