"Nadja" comes from Andre Breton’s surrealist novel of the same name. When I discovered Breton's writing, I immediately fell in love and felt at home. Enchanted and mystified, “Nadja” has been happily haunting me ever since.
The struggle and beauty of writing is the search for one’s own truth. This underlying tension is what fuels every artist - our ideals are greater than the tools with which we have to express ourselves. I have found keys to this through improvising. Nadja has become my muse and my comfort; she helps me to accept my own paradox and struggle as a composer, and to see the journey itself as something beautiful and illuminating.
(Incidentally, my mother planned to name me Nadja).
The Whale Song, for solo cello (2020) Commissioned by Sæunn Thorsteinsdóttir
Haiku, for solo cello (2020) Commissioned by Arlen Hlusko
Quasi Una Sarabanda, for solo cello (2021) Commissioned by Caitlin Sullivan
The Whale’s Shadow, for solo flute/alto flute (2025) Commissioned by Júlia Gállego
To the Moon, for violin and piano (2006)
To the Moon, for cello, piano, dancer (2007) Choreography by Norbert de la Cruz III
Where Things Weigh Nothing at All, for viola and piano (2020) Commissioned by Carr-Petrova Duo
Désenvoyé, for cello and piano (2024) Commissioned by Christian-Pierre la Marca
Progression, for oboe, clarinet, cello (2006)
Camelia’s waltz, for flute and string quartet (2006)
-اﯿﻦ مﻄ أﻟMother Of Clay, for violin scordatura, clarinet/bass clarinet, trombone, double bass (2022) Commissioned by Lucerne Festival
String Quartet No. 1: For Roger (2022) Commissioned by Perlman Music Program, in memory of Roger Tapping
Birds on the Moon (2024) Commissioned by Chamber Music in Napa Valley for the Juilliard String Quartet. Dedicated in loving memory of Roger Tapping
Toujours Pour la Première Fois, for tenor, violin, piano (2020)
Rolling Wave that Returns, for tenor, violin, piano (2023) Commissioned by Tanglewood Music Center
the petal’s edge, for baritone and piano (2023)
Carry the Sun, vignette 3 from Ein Leid auf den Lippen (2024)
Nadja, for solo violin and electronics (2010)
Canon, for violin and loop station (2019)
Mozart Violin Concerto No. 3 (2018)
Mozart Violin Concerto No. 5 (2023)
Brahms Violin Concerto (2022)
The Lark Ascending, introductory Cadenza (2024) Commissioned by Adda Kridler
So Long Jawn, for solo violinist doubling on piano (2017)
Improvisation on Bach Adagio *
Improvisation and Sarabande *
*for further inquiries about Improvisations on Sonatas and Partitas of J.S. Bach, please contact Michelle Barzel Ross
Electronic Installation for Lucerne Festival Forward (2022)
Rendez Vous, for violin, piano, electronics, string quartet, in collaboration with filmmaker Sarah Outhwaite, dancers Macy Sullivan and Jenna Pollack, and actor Phoebe Dunn (2015-ongoing)
New Music USA
The Rendez Vous, spearheaded by filmmaker Sarah Outhwaite, received a New Music USA grant for Michelle's work with the piece, and her string quartet for will be premiered soon
A Type of Translucence, created by Michelle Ross, actor Leah Walsh, and dancer Jenna Pollack: for interactive electronics (2015) Cubicle, created by Michelle Ross, actor Phoebe Dunn, and dancer Jenna Pollack: for violin and electronics (2015)
Island, film score with NYU grad students (2012)
A Particular Premiere of the First, for violin and electronics, Choreography by Esme Boyce (2012)
Square None, for electronics, Choreography by Norbert De La Cruz III, commissioned by Aspen Sante Fe Ballet (2011)
Inventing Wonderland (2011) created by Michelle Ross, actor Brendan Spieth, and visual installation artist W. Bradford Paley: for violin, piano, string quartet, electronics, actor, and TextArc
To the Moon, for violin (or cello), piano, and solo dancer, Choreography by Norbert De La Cruz III (2008)
Watch Norbert De La Cruz III, "To the Moon"
A solo performed for Project Philippines 2008, an educational outreach and performance installation Dance Project in the Philippine islands during the summer of 2008. Choreographed by Norbert De La Cruz III; Film/Video by Gianina Ferreyra; Original music composed by Michelle Ross; Deborah Pae, vello; Natalia Kazaryan, piano.
