Welcome Letter from Board President

Welcome to Unbound Symphony!

-by Bhavani Kotha, March 1, 2026

My name is Bhavani Kotha, oboist and founding Board President of Unbound Symphony. This symphony orchestra was created for many reasons. I’m most excited about building a platform for women’s creative works in the symphonic genre to be showcased.

Can you name more than a handful of women composers and can you recognize their symphonies themes? Women composers have existed all along! There are records kept and music scores that have been preserved dating back hundreds of years. I look back at my own history as a performer, and there have only been two or three times I can remember there being a symphony composed by a woman on the program.

For our first concert, we are presenting music composed by Dr. Sarah Bassingthwaighte, featured on her recent album, “Orchestrating the Wild.” Immersing ourselves with Sarah’s music is more meaningful as a performer and having the chance to work with her as part of the festival is a wonderful opportunity to all the musicians. Sarah is a trailblazing composer and flutist in classical music community and is based in Seattle. She travels all around the world and writes symphonies for orchestras that commission her work. For a long time she used a pseudonym. Many people might be happy to perform historical men’s symphonies for the 100th time; but at Unbound Symphony, how exciting is it to have the chance to play Sarah’s Double Bass concerto this July, most of us for the first time? We can’t wait.

The idea that a women’s orchestra will now exist in our community, as a place we perform and collaborate with women and bring these creative projects to life, is energizing. I only wish we created this years ago.

Women uplifting women and sharing our art with the community speaks to us as performers. We can break free of “traditions” and explore stories of trailblazing women in the community. Music is so versatile, so having the opportunity to partner with other art forms in meaningful collaborations and storytelling will be a big part of our journey. We are excited to explore this uncharted territory, as we launch Unbound Symphony. We also hope to inspire other orchestras and groups to produce more art experiences celebrating women.

Together with Executive Director, Dr. Kate MacKenzie, my fellow Board Members, and leadership musicians, I invite you to join us!