Resinosa Ensemble: Touch the Hand of Love

The Resinosa Ensemble features Joëlle Morris, mezzo-soprano; Bridget Convey, piano; and Eliza Meyer, cello, and combines a love of chamber music with gloriously innovative programming.

For its 2025-2026 season, the Resinosa Ensemble will present the program Touch the Hand of Love, featuring the world premiere of “Three Paintings” by Maine composer Philip Carlsen. Philip selected poems by his wife, Franco-American poet Jeri Theriault, that were inspired by paintings of Marc Chagall, Andrew Wyeth, and Annette Lemieux. This program features a diverse collection of exquisite songs and instrumentals, exploring the depths of human love in its various forms.

The theme of love persists with the sensuous poetry of Tsu Yeh, elegantly set by Paul John Rudoi in “Midnight Songs,” alongside “Losaida, My Love” by 2024 Grammy winner Jessie Montgomery, whose music gracefully intertwines themes of social justice and the human experience.

The program is complemented by compositions from Barabara Strozzi, Chen Yi, Florence Price, Caroline Shaw, Amy Beach, and a delightful arrangement of Blossom Dearie’s “Touch the Hand of Love.” The Resinosa Ensemble’s commitment to showcasing diverse musical styles and composers, particularly those historically excluded, is exemplified in this captivating lineup.

PBN will present two concerts at Elizabethtown’s Hand House — one on Saturday, April 11th at 7 PM and the next on Sunday, April 12th at 3 PM. Doors will open 30 minutes before the performances, and we recommend arriving early to avoid check-in lines. Admission for concerts at Elizabethtown’s Historic Hand House is $20, with a special $5 rate for children 15 and under. We accept cash or checks at the door. Patrons may also make their donations online—look for the PayPal button at the bottom of any page of our website.

Please Note: Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, and reservations are strongly encouraged due to limited availability of chairs and parking spaces. We would like to also encourage you to ride share when possible, as our parking lot is more limited when there is snow and mud on the ground. You can reserve your spot via email at pianobynature@gmail.com or by phone at 518-962-8899. We look forward to seeing you all there!

About the Resinosa Ensemble

The Resinosa Ensemble came together in 2016 with a shared love for intimate chamber music, collaborating with contemporary composers, and generally offering music slightly off the beaten path. Comprised of Maine residents Joëlle Morris, Mezzo-Soprano; Eliza Meyer, cello; and Bridget Convey, piano; the ensemble has appeared in numerous chamber music series, including Colby College, Bates College, the Back Cove Contemporary Music Festival, the UUCC music series and First Fridays at First Parish in Portland, Maine. The ensemble is looking forward to concerts at the Eastport Arts Center (Maine), University of Southern Maine, University of Maine at Augusta and Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine.

The Resinosa Ensemble is proactive in commissioning new works and creating programs that mix the music of today with gems from the past. Past seasons have featured an eclectic taste in music, from exploring works of women composers spanning 900 years, to delving into the songs of nights and dreams.

A strong advocate of 21st century music, the ensemble has worked alongside American composers Tom Flaherty, Justin Henry Rubin, Paul John Rudoi, Beth Wiemann, Scott Wheeler, and Joshua Jandreau. Future collaborations will include a mix of gifted and commissioned works by Maine composers Daniel Sonenberg, John Newell, Marianna Filippi, Nancy Gunn, Vineet Shende, and Rick Nelson.

About Our Artists

Originally from Evian, France, Mezzo-Soprano Joëlle Morris has performed throughout Europe and the United States and is admired for her versatility, from the concert stage to the operatic arena, in intimate jazz settings and French cabaret or simply sharing her gifts as voice teacher and coach.

An active recitalist, Joëlle has sung across the United States, France, and Switzerland. Since relocating to Maine in 2011, Joëlle has appeared with the Bangor Symphony Orchestra, the Mozart Mentor Orchestra, and regularly gives recitals at the Franco Center, Waterville Opera House, Colby College, Bates College, Bowdoin College, Nordica Auditorium, and the Early Music Festival in Portland. In 2013, Joelle was featured on the “207” show on WCHS Channel 6 to highlight the release of her new Christmas album “C’est Noël!” with pianist Bridget Convey. Joëlle is the co-founding member of the Resinosa Ensemble and the Amethyst Chamber Ensemble in Maine as well as the musical director of CODA chorus in Winthrop, Maine. In addition to annual summer appearances in France, she is currently a Music Associate in Voice at Colby College, Bates College and holds a private studio in central Maine. She can be reached via her website at www.joellemorris.com.

Cellist Eliza Meyer performs regularly with chamber and orchestral ensembles around New England, including Resinosa Ensemble and the Portland and Bangor Symphonies. She teaches at UMaine Augusta and Pineland Suzuki School, in addition to maintaining a private teaching studio at her home in Vassalboro. She received her Bachelor of Music Degree and a Performer Diploma from the Indiana University School of Music, where she was a recipient of the Eva Heinitz Scholarship, and her Master of Music Degree from The Boston Conservatory, where she was a member of the Honors String Quartet and a winner of the String Idol contest. She has studied with Andrew Mark, Rhonda Rider, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, and Helga Winold.

A musician who enjoys performing music of our time, pianist Bridget Convey has found much fulfillment in collaborating with living composers. She has been fortunate to work with composers such as Morton Subotnick, Mel Powell, James Tenney, Daniel Sonenberg, Vineet Shende, Elliott Schwartz, and many others. As a soloist and ensemble musician, Bridget has been heard at venues such as Lincoln Center (NYC); Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (Los Angeles, CA); Ojai Music Festival (CA); Maybeck Performing Arts Studio (Berkeley, CA); Percussive Arts Society International Convention (Columbus, OH); among many others. She received her Diploma from Mannes College of Music, NYC (Pre-college Division) 1989; BFA from State University of New York at Purchase 1993; and MFA from the California Institute of the Arts 1997. Bridget can be heard on Navona, Cuneiform, Independent and Nataraja labels. She teaches piano at Bates College and has a private piano studio in Central Maine.

“…the piano shining like a star, without dictating a thing…Convey realized the part perfectly.” – Christopher Hyde, Maine Classical Beat