Fall 2025
DISPATCHES: a progress report
Dear Friends,
As we welcome the rainy season, my work continues on DISPATCHES from the CHARCOAL FOREST, now set to premiere the first two weekends of May 2026. I am challenged and grateful for the creative (and administrative!) work of it all and I look forward to bringing you, my dear community, into the process on a more detailed and intimate level soon.
in this issue:
+Launch of my GOFUNDME CAMPAIGN for DCF
+Paul Dresher Ensemble Residency, plus a shared show for the premiere May 1 & 2
+Tiny preview with my ensemble at the MilkBar on October 24th
GoFundMe Campaign Launch is now live!
DISPATCHES from the CHARCOAL FOREST
An expanded song cycle for 6 voices and soundscape
The process of creating DCF has been like inventing a new genre: one that demands a high level of production technically, musically, and performatively, blending my prerecorded soundscapes with live singers. The composition is complex, nuanced, and musically challenging, necessitating professional singers, skilled performers, and technical support.
To make this vision a reality, additional funds are required to pay for my ensemble, notation, sound engineering, publicity, documentation, venue and equipment rentals, and other production costs. You can learn more and watch the trailer I’ve been creating with Catherine Hollander here:
The process of creating DCF has been like inventing a new genre: one that demands a high level of production technically, musically, and performatively, blending my prerecorded soundscapes with live singers. The composition is complex, nuanced, and musically challenging, necessitating professional singers, skilled performers, and technical support.
To make this vision a reality, additional funds are required to pay for my ensemble, notation, sound engineering, publicity, documentation, venue and equipment rentals, and other production costs. You can learn more and watch the trailer I’ve been creating with Catherine Hollander here:
All this has led me to ask YOU, my dear community, to help bring this new work to life. Whether it be $5 or $5,000 your contribution is meaningful and I thank you in advance for it!
Click here to contribute.
More here: merlinman.com/dispatches
Paul Dresher Ensemble Residency, plus a shared show for the premiere May 1 & 2
I am so grateful to have been awarded a residency at the Paul Dresher Ensemble space in Oakland. Their beautiful newly constructed space will afford rehearsal and tech time, and ultimately the DCF premiere May 1st and 2nd. Click here to learn more.
I am honored to be sharing the evening with Amy X Neuburg who will present a beautiful 8-channel work. Learn more about Amy here. It should be quite a night!
Performances will continue with DCF alone the following weekend of May 8/9 at the MilkBar, with two shows per evening.
Take a look here, as well as order a copy: elizabethscostello.com
Tiny Preview with my Ensemble at the MilkBar October 24th
My new Ensemble of six singers will perform a short vocal segment from DCF in a live performance as part of the fall Milk Bar salon series. Join us from 8-11pm in Richmond.
See the website for details and directions:
milkbar.org/salons