The New York Philharmonic celebration

of the centennial of the 19th Amendment through commissions

of new works by 19 women.

We'll feature 8 premieres by composers,

including Caroline Shaw, the youngest recipient

of the Pulitzer Prize for music, and Joan Tower, the first woman

to win the Grawemeyer award.

DEBORAH BORDA: Project 19 is something,

the entire New York Philharmonic family is proud of.

So we have commissioned 19 spectacular and very diverse

composers.

JAAP VAN ZWEDEN: That variety in the composers

is extremely important because that's

where the New York Philharmonic part of its great DNA

is coming from.

We always champions, new composers,

from the early days on 'till today,

and I'm proud to be part of that.

NARRATOR: The 2021 season will open with the world premieres

of the project 19 commissions by Joan Tower and Jessie

Montgomery, conducted by Jaap van Zweden.

JESSIE MONTGOMERY: I commend the New York

Philharmonic for taking this on and for also making

the effort to--

honestly trying to participate in the social dialogue.

I think that's an incredible feat of the orchestra,

and I think it's a timely project.

NARRATOR: The orchestra will also perform the project 19

commissions by Caroline Shaw and Anna Thorvaldsdottir.

ANNA THORVALDSDOTTIR: It's very fascinating

to see orchestra supporting young composers

and writing for the orchestra.

And the New York Philharmonic has

been very supportive with both commissioning and programming

contemporary music.

CAROLINE SHAW: The orchestra has an incredibly important role

in terms of supporting the work and the lives of living

composers.

I'm very honored to be a part of some of that change.

And I feel very lucky to get to write for the New York

Philharmonic.

NARRATOR: The project 19 commissions by Melinda Wagner,

Mary Kouyoumdjian, Angelica Negron, and Du Yun

will be performed as part of the Grow at Annenberg Sound

On series.

Jessie Montgomery and Caroline Shaw

will curate two late night events,

as part of the Kravis Nightcap series.

Kravis creative partner, Nadia Sirota,

is the host of both series.

NADIA SIROTA: The composer Caroline Shaw is just

one of the most sort of genuine and communicative musicians

that I have ever observed.

You just get the feeling that music is kind

of pouring out from her heart.

Jesse Montgomery is an extremely talented composer.

I love her work.

I'm really excited to talk to her

and hear about the music that influenced her and drives her.

NARRATOR: The New York Philharmonic

has partnered with institutions through out the city

to extend the reach of project 19

and further conversations about representation

in classical music and beyond.

DEBORAH BORDA: One of the hopes for project 19,

that it sparks conversation.

It sparks thought.

How can we generate excitement and electricity around music

and around our city?

Change is only the beginning.

What we look for a long term is what this

will mean for our community.

[MUSIC PLAYING]