LISTENING FOR
WHAT COMES NEXT
An original song commissioned by Edmonton Opera
With generous support from the Edmonton Arts Council
Words by Lisa Martin • Music by Jennifer McMillan
Edmonton Opera is excited to announce a new song commission with music by composer Jennifer McMillan and words by poet Lisa Martin. This new piece titled "Listening For What Comes Next", explores longing, connection, and hope — amid the current moment that we all know too well.
INTERVIEWS WITH THE CREATIVE TEAM
What goes into writing an original choral piece? Listen to Lisa and Jennifer discuss their creative processes and how the song resonates with life today.
The words of Listening For What Comes Next:
Lisa Martin, poet
The music of Listening For What Comes Next:
Jennifer McMillan, composer
All Together Now:
in conversation with Lisa and Jennifer
THE CREATIVE TEAM
Words
Lisa Martin
Lisa Martin’s second collection of poetry, Believing is not the same as Being Saved, was a finalist in 2019 for the City of Edmonton Book Prize, the Writers' Guild of Alberta’s Stephan G. Stephansson Award for Poetry, and the Book Publishers’ Association of Alberta’s Robert Kroetsch Award. Her first collection, One crow sorrow, won the Stephan G. Stephansson Award in 2009. She has twice been nominated for a National Magazine Award in Personal Journalism (2012, 2019). She writes the “Gravida and Parity” column for the Edmonton Journal, and teaches creative writing at Athabasca University and Concordia University of Edmonton.
Music
Jennifer McMillan
Jennifer McMillan is an active member of Edmonton’s musical community as a pianist, vocalist, clinician, composer, and arranger. Jen's choral arrangements and compositions have been heard across the world. As a vocalist, she has lent her talents to various publishing demos and numerous vocal ensembles. Jen has performed as a backup singer for Ben Folds and has been a featured vocalist in many film, television and video game recordings. A few favourites include Universal Studios Tokyo, Warframe (video game), CBS's Hawaii Five-O and CBC's The Nature of Things. As an accompanist, she has played for numerous school and community choirs, soloists, auditions, cabarets, and musicals in Canada and abroad.