Unbound Symphony Launches on International Women’s Day

New Women’s Orchestra Unbound Symphony Launches in Seattle on International Women’s Day

Seattle, Wash., March 8, 2026 – A new professional orchestra dedicated to expanding opportunities for women musicians is launching in Seattle today. Unbound Symphony, founded by performers, composers, and arts leaders from across the region seeks to broaden artistic visibility for women in the orchestral workforce while presenting compelling repertoire for contemporary audiences.

The ensemble will introduce itself to the public this summer with a Women’s Orchestra Festival, taking place July 8-10, 2026. The festival will feature works by women composers, including a Double Bass Concerto by award-winning Seattle-based composer Dr. Sarah Bassingthwaighte from her recent album Orchestrating the Wild. Bassingthwaighte, who has composed under a pseudonym, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration.

“To work with an orchestra that is intentionally centered on this repertoire is rare,” she said. “It shifts the artistic dynamic and allows the music to exist without apology.”

For violinist and concertmaster Denise Dillenbeck, the ensemble is built on both artistic ambition and professional standards.

“This is not symbolic,” she said. “Our musicians are established professionals who care deeply about expanding what audiences experience. We are committed to artistic rigor and to broadening the canon at the same time.”

The orchestra’s founders say the project grew from conversations among musicians who recognized that opportunities for women performers and composers remain uneven across the field.

“Cultural institutions shape whose stories are told, and whose are not,” said founding board member and arts journalist Katie Berglof. “That applies to composers and performers alike. Unbound Symphony is part of a growing movement to align arts organizations with the values of equity and cultural access.”

Equity in programming is a central focus for the ensemble’s artistic vision. Although orchestras occasionally increase programming by women composers, those works often disappear again in subsequent seasons.

“I look back at my own career as a performer, and there have only been two or three times I can remember a symphony by a woman appearing on the program,” said founding Board president and oboist Bhavani Kotha. “Equity in programming must be sustained, not cyclical.”

Cellist and founding artistic leader Erika Fiebig said the orchestra was created in response to a deeper artistic need within the community.

“Unbound Symphony meets an overdue personal and community need for women’s unfettered self-expression through the generative, interpretive, and technical artists of the Puget Sound region,” Fiebig said. “Composers, conductors, and musicians alike deserve a space where their artistic voices can flourish.”

Community members have already begun responding to the project. Melissa Heidrich praised the orchestra’s mission for bringing long overlooked composers into the spotlight.

“Unbound Symphony gives voice to so many women composers throughout history who deserve to finally be heard and recognized,” she said.

Beyond performance, the organization plans to develop educational programs, community engagement initiatives, and partnerships with local organizations. These efforts aim to connect orchestral music with broader conversations about inclusion, artistic opportunity, and healthy professional cultures in the performing arts.

The orchestra is currently developing a partnership with the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center as part of its commitment to fostering respectful and supportive artistic environments. Conversations about professional culture have become increasingly important across the classical music field, where researchers and advocates have noted that hierarchical training systems and intense career pressures can contribute to environments where misconduct is underreported.

Unbound Symphony was founded by musicians and arts leaders including Executive Director Kate MacKenzie and artistic leaders Sarah Bassingthwaighte, Denise Dillenbeck, Annie Chang-Center, and Erika Fiebig. Board members include Bhavani Kotha, Kenya Shakoor, Katie Berglof, and John Spencer.

Additional information about Unbound Symphony and its upcoming festival can be found on our website: www.UnboundSymphony.org.

About Unbound Symphony

Unbound Symphony curates supportive musical communities for women and gender-marginalized artists while enriching the public through inclusive performances, learning opportunities, and community partnerships.