TURNmusic performing Penelope on November 2, 2018 in Stowe, Vermont.
TURNmusic performs 'Penelope’ by Sarah Kirkland Snider featuring Mary Bonhag
+ String Quartets from Bridgerton/Queen Charlotte:
Nobody Gets Me by Sza
Wildest Dreams by Taylor Swift
POV by Ariana Grande
With a silent auction to benefit Brook Street High School and TURNmusic.
Sunday, March 30, 2025 Barre Opera House Opens 1:00pm / Music 2:00pm.
Silent auction and reception with artists following the performance.
Reflection and Resilience
This concert explores the emotional depth, strength, and transformation of women navigating the passage of time. Our program brings together works that tell stories of waiting and longing, but also of resilience and reinvention—of women who have put their lives on hold and those who have found ways to make them sustainable. First, we step into the shimmering worlds of Bridgerton and Queen Charlotte, where familiar modern melodies take on new life through the elegance of a string quartet. The selections—Wildest Dreams by Taylor Swift, POV by Ariana Grande, and Nobody Gets Me by SZA—offer a different perspective on love, longing, and self-preservation. These songs, transformed into classical string quartet arrangements, remind us that while some women may find themselves waiting, others are carving out space for their own stories, reimagining what love and fulfillment look like on their own terms.
Penelope by Sarah Kirkland Snider, is a song cycle that reimagines Homer’s Odyssey through the perspective of a woman left behind. In this modern retelling, Penelope is not just waiting—she is remembering, questioning, and ultimately reclaiming her own identity. Through Snider’s richly textured music and poetic lyricism, we experience the weight of time and the ache of uncertainty, but also the quiet strength of a woman finding her voice.
TURNmusic is thrilled to perform Penelope again this March and feature the versatile voice of Vermont soprano, Mary Bonhag. Soprano, Mary Bonhag Violins, Mary Rowell & Brooke Quiggins Viola, Elizabeth Reid Cello, John Dunlop Bass, Nicholas Browne Guitar, Geoff Kim Percussion, Jane Boxall Laptop/Live Electronics, Katie Semro Conductor, Anne Decker.
Mary Bonhag is an “extraordinary” singer (Classical Voice N. America) committed to the healing powers of song. She is both a new-music specialist and a singer deeply devoted to sacred music across the ages. Mary was featured on Resonant Bodies Festival, and has sung with 21st Century Consort, and San Francisco Contemporary Players. Mary recently premiered a new chamber opera by Susan Botti, River Spirits, an allegorical tale featuring Mary, Susan Botti, and Lucy Shelton. Mary is sought after for her impeccable musicianship and “supple expressive voice” (San Antonio News) for concert work, specializing in the sacred music of J.S. Bach.
About Penelope
Penelope was composed by Sarah Kirkland Snider. Lyrics by Ellen McLaughlin.
Watch an excerpt from TURNmusic’s 2018 performance here. Instrumentation includes: Mezzo-soprano, Guitar (electric, acoustic), 2 Violins, Viola, Violoncello, Bass, Laptop/Live Electronics, Percussion.
Projection of drawings
TURNmusic extends a special thanks to our premiere sponsors: Vermont Gynecology and Art Zorn, with operational support from the Vermont Arts Council.
