The Joyce C. Willis Artist in Residence program honors the legacy of Joyce C. Willis, a dedicated supporter of the arts and former board member of the HSO. The Joyce C. Willis Fund for Excellence and Equity in the Arts, established by The Roberts Foundation in late 2020, aims to support Black artists and enhance diversity within the arts community

Shelley Washington

2026-2027 Artist in Residence

Composer and saxophonist Shelley Washington (1991) has emerged as an important and powerful voice of her generation. She writes music that draws from every sound she’s ever heard, tacking together snippets of jazz, rock, American folk, etc. sewn together that can “expertly mine the deep wells of private emotion,” (Opera News) and “sinuously grooves” (New York Times). The music she makes seeks to tell stories, with and without words, and comments on current and past social narratives she has seen or experienced.

Shelley has been commissioned by ensembles such as the Boston Lyric Opera, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Long Beach Opera Company, and Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble Connect. Recently, her chamber orchestra piece, Both, has been performed by the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and the Kansas City Symphony. Her concerto for cello and kick drum and orchestra, HAYMAKER, premiered at Carnegie Hall in the spring of 2026 performed by the American Composers Orchestra with cellist Amanda Gookin. Her arrangement of Julius Eastman’s Joy Boy was recorded by Los Angeles-based ensemble, Wild Up, on their Grammy-nominated album “Eastman Vol. 2: Joy Boy” and her string quartet, MIDDLEGROUND, was featured on PUBLIQuartet’s Grammy-nominated album, “Freedom and Faith”. Currently Artist-in-Residence with the Long Beach Opera Company, she is working on a new opera, The Passion of the Nell, with librettist and acclaimed novelist, Lisa Teasley. 

Shelley is a Ph.D. candidate in Music at Princeton University and teaches composition at New York University Steinhardt. She is an active performer and collaborator who has performed and recorded with Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, Pieta Brown, the 37d03d Collective, appeared on NPR’s Dolly Parton’s America podcast, and in Netflix and Vox Media’s series, Explained. As a member of the Los Angeles-based chamber orchestra Wild Up, she has been able to contribute to their ongoing Julius Eastman anthology series, and recently provided vocals for Eastman’s Stay On It for their NPR Tiny Desk concert. Alongside vocals and saxophone, Shelley plays guitar in her Brooklyn-based post-rock band, Good Looking Friends, and saxophone in Stay Inside. When she isn’t making noise, she can be found walking her dog Rodeo near her home in Brooklyn, NY.

Learn more at https://www.shelleywashington.com/

Artist in residence sponsors:

Praised for “combining omnivory and brilliance” (The New York Times), seven-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated violinist and composer Curtis Stewart translates stories of American self determination to the concert stage. Tearing down the facade of “classical violinist,” Stewart is in constant pursuit of his musical authenticity, treating art as a battery for realizing citizenship. As a solo violinist, composer, Artistic Director of the American Composers Orchestra, professor at The Juilliard School, and member of award-winning ensembles PUBLIQuartet and The Mighty Third Rail, he realizes a vision to find personal and powerful connections between styles, cultures and musics. He has been awarded a 2024 Sphinx Medal of Excellence, in recognition of extraordinary leaders in the classical music field who are transforming lives while addressing systemic obstacles within Black and Latino communities.

Curtis Stewart joins the Hartford Symphony Orchestra as the 2025–2026 Joyce C. Willis Artist in Residence, bringing his unique artistic voice to a series of community-centered performances, educational events, and creative collaborations. Through this residency, Stewart will work closely with HSO musicians, staff, and community partners to engage audiences across the Greater Hartford region.

To learn more about Curtis Stewart, visit www.curtisjstewart.com.

Pianist Clayton Stephenson’s residency was marked by dynamic school visits and an unforgettable community concert at the Artists Collective. One of the most moving performances featured Stephenson playing He Lives in You from The Lion King, accompanied by a powerful dance piece choreographed and performed by local students. His December concert was a standout of the season, leaving a lasting impression on audiences and students alike. Watching him perform and rehearse was nothing short of inspiring—an experience many described as a true privilege.

Learn  more  at https://claytonstephenson.com/

Violinist Melissa White brought joy and inspiration to young musicians at Ana Grace Academy of the Arts in Bloomfield, where she worked closely with the school’s string ensemble under the direction of their teacher. Her residency culminated in a celebratory community concert at the Artists Collective, which highlighted the many meaningful connections she made throughout the season. The event featured memorable moments, including a stirring performance of Fleetwood Mac’s The Chain alongside the Ana Grace string orchestra, and a heartfelt duet with her longtime friend and collaborator, cellist Sophie Shao, a professor of music at UConn.

Learn  more  at https://melissawhiteviolin.com/

During his residency, composer Quinn Mason made a powerful impact by working directly with music and drumline students at Noah Webster Micro Society School in Hartford, under the guidance of music teacher Abbey Sutcliffe. One of the major highlights of his time with the HSO was the premiere of his commissioned piece She Dreams of Flying, a work partly inspired by Music Director Carolyn Kuan. The composition showcases Mason’s unique voice and imagination, reflecting his deep connection to the orchestra and the community.

Learn  more  at https://www.masonianmusic.com/

Joyce C. Willis was a lifelong member of the Hartford Community and a crucial member of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra’s Board of Directors. Born in Hartford, Joyce was a graduate of Hartford Public High School, Class of 1965. After high school, Joyce continued her education at Howard University where she majored in English. After graduating from Howard University, Joyce returned to Hartford and took a position with the Hartford Times newspaper. She later transitioned to the insurance industry and worked at The Hartford Financial Services Group in Corporate Communications. Joyce worked in various capacities over the years at The Hartford and retired as a Vice President of Corporate Communications after over 25 years of service. She was awarded national recognitions for excellence in her field and was widely known as one of the top executives at the company.

She had a deep and abiding love for African American Art and was a founding member of the Amistad Foundation, now The Amistad Center for Art & Culture in Hartford. Joyce served on the board of trustees for many years and was a past chairperson of the Curatorial Committee, where she enjoyed participating in the selection of exhibits and works of art on display at The Amistad Center. In addition to the HSO, she was a board member of The Edward C. and Ann T. Roberts Foundation, and she served on numerous committees and fundraising groups for the United Way in Hartford. Joyce’s determination to leave a lasting legacy in the community she loved was further realized when she became a charter member of the Black Giving Circle Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. Joyce was a devoted family member and attended every Reynolds Family Reunion. She was a founding member of the Reynolds Family Scholarship Fund Committee.

We honor the memory of Joyce C. Willis for her support of excellence and equity in the arts. Joyce’s memory lives on through the HSO’s Joyce C. Willis Artist In Residence program, funded by the Roberts Foundation.