Commissions
Starting with its first commissioned arrangement in 1993 to an upcoming major work for 2013, Orion has commissioned more than a dozen pieces for its instrumentation, including:
- Miguel de la Cerna, 20th Season Orion Commission (2013)
- Miguel de la Cerna, Livingston 8 - A Fantasy (2012)
- Victoria Bond's Instruments of Revelation (2011)
- Laura Elise Schwendinger, High Wire Act for Clarinet, Violin, Cello, and Piano (2009) as adapted for the instrumentation of the Orion Ensemble
- Which Way Home for Soprano, Clarinet, Violin, Viola, Cello, and Piano (2009) by Drew Hemenger as adapted for the instrumentation of the Orion Ensemble
- Tango, Prelude and Fugue for Clarinet, Violin, Viola, Cello, and Piano (2007), composed for Orion’s 15th Anniversary by E. Patrick Horn
- Sebastian Huydts’ Quintet for Clarinet, Violin, Viola, Cello, and Piano (2002), commissioned to celebrate Orion’s 10th Anniversary
- Robert Kritz’s Connections for Clarinet, Violin, Viola, Cello, and Piano (2001) and Lamentations for the 21st Century for Soprano, Baritone, Clarinet, Violin, Viola, Cello, and Piano (2002)
- Angel Musings for Clarinet, Violin, Viola, Cello, and Piano (1999) by Augusta Read Thomas, then composer-in-residence for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
- Ilya Levinson arrangement of Enescu’s Rhapsodie Roumaine, Op. 11, No. 1 for Violin, Viola, Cello, Clarinet and Piano (1998)
- Two works written for the Ensemble by Mannheim Steamroller pianist Jackson Berkey: Solomon Quintet (1997) and Earth Voices (1994)
- The Miracle at the Pontoon Bridge (1995) by Jim Wintle, based on a poem by Chicagoan Vachel Lindsay
- Brian Culbertson’s Magical Mancini for Violin, Viola, Cello, Clarinet, and Piano (1994), an arrangement of Henry Mancini songs
- Michael Kocour’s arrangement of Gershwin’s Summertime and of Arlen’s Stormy Weather (1993)