THE FLOWER CATALOG: AN EVENING OF SOLO PIANO
Saturday, May 18, 2024 | 7–8:30pm
Sunday, May 19, 2024 | 7–8:30pm

Presented in partnership with Juventas New Music Ensemble.

Join Pianist Julia Scott Carey and Composer Stephanie Ann Boyd for a special solo piano performance of the Flower Catalog, a collection of 13 botanically inspired preludes. Set in the Garden’s iconic Limonaia conservatory at golden hour, this one-of-a-kind program will include the world premiere of a new prelude, “Apple Blossom,” and a Q&A with the artists. A selection of beer, wine, and light snacks will be available for purchase during the event.

The exquisite preludes of the Flower Catalog were written by acclaimed composer Stephanie Ann Boyd. Each piece was commissioned by a different piano soloist and inspired by their favorite flower. The collection explores the relationship between memory and nature, influenced by personal stories, childhood memories, and a range of emotions so familiar to the human experience. The result of her work is a musical “bouquet” for audiences to spend time with.

This concert will be the first complete performance of all 13 preludes on one stage. “Apple Blossom,” the centerpiece of this exclusive event, was co-commissioned by New England Botanic Garden and Juventas New Music Ensemble. Inspired by the iconic flower that graces the Garden’s logo and represents its historic apple orchard, the commission honors Marillyn Zacharis, Worcester County Horticultural Society Trustee Emerita, devoted Garden member and horticulturist, as well as Juventas Pianist and Founder Julia Scott Carey for her 20 years performing with the ensemble.

Tickets must be reserved in advance. All ticket sales are final. Click here to reserve your tickets.

Early Bird Registration (before March 25, 2024) – 20% off
Member Adult: $20
Adult: $28
Student (must show student ID upon arrival): $12

General Registration (after March 25, 2024) 
Member Adult: $25
Adult: $35
Student (must show student ID upon arrival): $15

Learn more about the artists, partners, and honorees:

Michigan-born, Manhattan-based American composer Stephanie Ann Boyd (b. 1990) is the composer of the Flower Catalog – a collection of 13 botanically inspired piano preludes. Stephanie writes melodic music about women’s memoirs and the natural world for symphonic and chamber ensembles. Her work has been performed in nearly all 50 states and has been commissioned by musicians and organizations in 37 countries. Boyd’s five ballets include works choreographed by New York City Ballet principal dancers Lauren Lovette, Ashley Bouder, NYCB soloist Peter Walker, and XAOC Contemporary Ballet’s Eryn Renee Young. Eero, a ballet commissioned by Access Contemporary Music and Open House New York, was written for the grand opening of the TWA Hotel at JFK Airport. Her music has been praised as “attractive lyricism” (Gramophone), “[with] ethereal dissonances” (Boston Globe), “[music that] didn’t let itself be eclipsed” (Texas Classical Review), “arrestingly poetic” (BMOP), and “wide ranging, imaginative” (Portland Press Herald).

Boyd’s music has been commissioned and performed by concertmasters of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Singapore Symphony, the New York City Ballet Orchestra, the Des Moines Symphony, the Faroe Islands Symphony, the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra, the Fort Smith Symphony, the Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra, and principal players in the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. Her music has been commissioned and/or played by the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, the New England Conservatory Philharmonic, the Cape Cod Chamber Orchestra, the New York Jazzharmonic, the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, the Roosevelt University Orchestra, the Eureka Ensemble, the JVL Festival Orchestra, the Texas State University Symphony, the Cremona International Academy Orchestra, the UW La Crosse Symphony, the Detroit Civic Orchestra, and the El Paso Youth Symphony. Her work has been presented by the Thalia and her Sisters concert series, the Moirae Ensemble, and Sandcastle New Music in New York City; Æpex Contemporary Music in Michigan; Juventas New Music, Collage New Music, and the New Gallery Concert Series in Boston; Cincinnati Soundbox, and others. Stephanie has worked with conductors such as Andrew Litton, Lina Gonzales, Earl Lee, Nathan Aspinall, Cliff Colnot, Gill Rose, Julian Benichou, Kristo Kondakci, and Kevin Fitzgerald.

Stephanie holds degrees from Roosevelt University and New England Conservatory, and she was one of the last violin students of renowned pedagogue John Kendall.

Julia Scott Carey is an honoree of the newly commissioned piano prelude, “Apple Blossom,” and the pianist who will perform The Flower Catalog during this event. Julia began her music training at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School, where she received the Lanier Prize for Most Outstanding Graduating Senior. She was one of the first students admitted to the Harvard-New England Conservatory joint degree program, through which she received a master’s degree in composition. She received a second master’s degree in collaborative piano from Boston University.

Julia is the Minister of Music at the Central Square Congregational Church in Bridgewater, where she leads the adult and children’s choirs from the keyboard. She is one of the accompanists for the Tanglewood Festival Chorus and the Boston Symphony Children’s Choir. She also serves as the accompanist for the Metropolitan Chorale of Brookline, the Dedham Choral Society, the Boston College University Chorale, and the Boston Saengerfest Men’s Chorus.  She previously served as the pianist for the Handel and Haydn Society’s Educational Vocal Quartet, the Wellesley College Chamber Singers, and the Boston Children’s Chorus. She is also a founder and core ensemble member of Juventas New Music Ensemble.

As a composer, her orchestral works have been performed by numerous orchestras, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Pops, and her works have been broadcast on national TV and radio in the United States and in Russia. She was the youngest composer ever published by the Theodore Presser Company. She was also chosen to arrange a folk song for Yo-Yo Ma and Lynn Chang to play at Deval Patrick’s inaugural ball.

Julia lives in Winchester with her husband and her daughter. In addition to music, she loves cooking, running, and spending time on Cape Cod.

Marillyn Zacharis headshotMarillyn Zacharis is an honoree of the newly commissioned piano prelude, “Apple Blossom,” and a long-time supporter of music programming at the Garden. Marillyn has always believed in the harmony between horticulture and music. In her leadership roles at New England Botanic Garden and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, she has combined her passions for the joy and benefit of us all.

With Marillyn’s support, the Garden has expanded the plant collections and provided greater access to the natural world for people of all abilities. Marillyn’s encouragement and support of music at the Garden has grown our program to include classical concerts with Juventas New Music Ensemble, swing and salsa nights on the Lawn, live music during our Thursday Summer Evenings series, and musical entertainment for kids and families.

When Marillyn donated the grand piano that will be played during this event, she said that the gift was particularly special because it combined the happy trio of music, horticulture, and friendship. We are grateful for Marillyn’s friendship and the many ways she has enriched New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill.

This event is presented in partnership with Juventas New Music Ensemble, whom New England Botanic Garden has had the pleasure of partnering with over the past three years for Music in Bloom. American Prize Winner Juventas New Music Ensemble is a contemporary chamber group with a special focus on emerging voices. The ensemble shares classical music as a vibrant, living art form, bringing audiences music from a diverse array of composers that live in today’s world and respond to our time.

Since its founding in 2005, Juventas has performed the music of more than 300 living composers. The ensemble has earned a reputation as a curator with a keen eye for new talent. It opens doors for composers with top-notch professional performances that present their work in the best possible light.

Recognition for the ensemble’s work includes the American Prize in Opera Performance and support from the National Endowment for the Arts, Massachusetts Cultural Council, and Boston Foundation. Juventas is featured on albums by Innova Recordings, Parma Records, and New Dynamic Records, and has held residencies at Boston Conservatory, Harvard University, Longy School of Music, Middlebury College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Juventas has a storied history of dynamic collaboration with artists in other media, including dancers, painters, scientists, poets, puppeteers, and robotics engineers. A leader in the field, Juventas also facilitates the Boston New Music Festival, a week-long showcase of Boston’s contemporary music scene.