BELFAST — Songs From Here, a Maine-based initiative supporting locally-written Classical vocal music, will perform in Belfast during this third season of performances. A series of six concerts will be offered this fall in venues around Maine, featuring soprano Sarah Tuttle (Portland) and pianist Bridget Convey (Hallowell). Tuttle and Convey will be joined in performances by various local poets, who will offer poetry readings during the concerts.

Songs From Here performances will be taking place throughout the fall, and many performances will be free of charge to audiences.

The Belfast performance will take place October 19, at the Belfast Free Library during the Belfast Poetry Festival.

Founded by Tuttle in 2021, Songs From Here emerged from a desire to create and perform locally-written Classical vocal music in Maine, for Maine audiences. Each year, Songs From Here partners with Maine’s classical composers to commission new vocal works, which are performed in a concert program that is presented in venues across the state each fall. Songs From Here also collaborates with Maine’s poets, who offer poetry readings as part of the musical performances. While the musical program remains the same and is offered at each venue, the featured poet changes with each performance, giving each show a unique and local feel, not to be repeated.

"Songs From Here brings together music and poetry in a way I've never seen before in Maine,” said said award-winning poet and archivist, Jefferson Navicky, a Songs From Here 2021 participant, in a Songs From Here news release. “The project is collaborative and inclusive, and seeks to connect with audiences all over the state. As a poet, it was a joy to experience the synergy that happens when artistic disciplines speak to each other on the same stage.” 

This fall, Songs From Here will present a program of song and poetry called “Love Today.” Tuttle and Convey will perform contemporary songs about love in its many forms, exploring its complexities, its gifts, and above all, its necessity. Three of Maine’s composers will have world premieres featured in this year’s program: Erica Ball (Portland), Marianna Filippi (Thomaston/Copenhagen), and emerging composer Emmalynn Craft (Cumberland).

“Love Today”also includes cabaret songs by Benjamin Britten and William Bolcom, a piece by Rene Orth that highlights the special challenges of modern parenthood, and a group of melodies by Connie Converse, who, one
day, disappeared without warning, and without a trace. Participating poets will include David Stankiewicz (Cape Elizabeth), Cathleen Miller (Scarborough), and Tyler French (Waterville).

The performance schedule

Denmark Arts, Denmark - September 15
First Parish Church, Saco - September 29
Greene Block + Studios/Colby Arts, Waterville - October 4
Olin Arts Center, Bates College, Lewiston - October 6

Belfast Free Library, Belfast Poetry Festival, Belfast - October 19
317 Main Community Music Center, Yarmouth - November 3

“This combination of song and poetry highlights the connection between music and the written word,” said Sarah Tuttle, director and vocalist. “It’s a unique, intimate performance experience for listeners, whether you’re a regular concert-goer or you’re looking to try something new, whether you’re coming for the music or for the poetry. The folks at the center of this project are members of our Maine community, and there’s something really special about seeing your friends and neighbors making music together. Our hope is that folks who attend our performances might be moved to make some music or poetry of their own. There’s room for everybody.” 

For further information about Songs From Here, visit www.songsfromhere.com, or email songsfromhereme@gmail.com.