Resonance Commissions | Poet-in-Residence

ABOUT THE RESIDENCY

Established in 2017, Resonance Ensemble’s Poet-in-Residence regularly contributes new texts and performs at our concerts throughout the season. Multiple new poems are commissioned each year, written in response to the themes of our programming and season focus. To date, Resonance Ensemble has supported the creation of over a dozen new texts through the residency.

The current poet-in-residence is Dr. S. Renee Mitchell, who has been our resident artist since the program’s inception in 2017.

In 2017 one of our main artistic collaborators had a conflict arise with our November VOICES concert, and we were nervous about who would fill their shoes. Having worked closely to develop not only the theme for the concert, but for our whole season, it would have been difficult with even several weeks notice—and we had mere days before the program would be performed live.

Reaching out to our incredible network of artists and organizations here in Portland, a friend-of-a-friend suggested that we reach out to Dr. S. Renee Mitchell. We had not met S. Renee before, but—we visited her website and started down the thrilling rabbit hole of watching YouTube videos of her poetry readings—we fell in love with her performances, her words, and her mission.

Resonance invited Dr. Mitchell to participate in the concert, and by glorious happenstance she was available and agreed to join us.

S. Renee then came to part of the dress rehearsal—2 days before the concert—to meet us and hear a little of the rehearsal. She talked more with us about the concept of the show. She listened to the music and read the program, which had the complete texts of the performance.

The music and texts already chosen were inspiring to her, and she let us know that she was going to go home and think about what she'd perform—arriving with a gorgeous, brand-new poem on concert day!

Deeply moved by both her words and captivating performance, we reached out after the concert to explore the possibility of establishing a poet residency. The residency would offer a long-term platform to debut new work at Resonance concerts, and highlight another medium of the human voice: spoken word performance.

To our delight, she agreed—and we’ve been making art together ever since.

Goin’ Round
premiered on VOICES (November 12th, 2017)

This Much is Clear
premiered on Women Singing Women (February 26th, 2018)

Love Embodies You
premiered on BODIES (June 24th, 2018)

Are You Listening?
premiered on HIDDEN VOICES (October 21st, 2018)

When I Was 40
premiered on Women Singing Women (February 3rd, 2019)

We Are All Mapless Wanderers Making Peace with Change
premiered on Intensive Care (June 9th, 2019)

We Are (Still) Here
premiered on Beautiful Minds (October 5th, 2019)

We Like to Call America a Safe Harbor
premiered on Safe Harbor (March 1, 2020)

Remember
premiered on An African American Requiem (May 5th, 2022), performed with music by Damien Geter

Seek What You Want to Find
premiered on Portland Protests (March 15-16, 2023), set by Kimberly R. Osberg