Pianist, Sarah Cahill performs No Ordinary Light to open Series at NDMOA

Pianist Sarah Cahill, “as tenacious and committed an advocate as any composer could dream of” (San Francisco Chronicle), is presented by the Myra Foundation as part of its Concerts in the Galleries Series on Sunday, October 11, 2026 at 2pm at the North Dakota Museum of Art. Cahill is a beloved guest artist at the Museum, having performed six times in this series, as well as giving a marathon performance of her ongoing investigative project, The Future is Female, in 2018.

This year, Cahill will perform a new program titled No Ordinary Light, an emotive project focused on the theme of homage and loss. No Ordinary Light explores how composers over the centuries have paid homage to one another, cherishing and immortalizing through music. This program also honors the experience of personal grief as well as celebrating the memories of our loved ones. This concert is dedicated to the memory of Laurel Reuter, the visionary founder and longtime director of the North Dakota Museum of Art. New commissioned works are by Samuel Adams, in memory of his mentor and godfather Ingram Marshall, and Clarice Jensen’s Homage to Ryuichi Sakamoto, combined with classical and 20th century works. This concert program will also feature the music of Jean-Henri d’Anglebert, Gabriel Fauré, Ricardo Viñes, Robert Helps, William Bolcom, Tom Constanten, Lou Harrison, Maggi Payne, Zenobia Powell Perry, François Couperin, and Maurice Ravel. Cahill's residency at the Museum includes school outreach activities and a master class.

Cahill has been described as “a brilliant and charismatic advocate for modern and contemporary composers” (Time Out New York). She was named a 2018 Champion of New Music, awarded by the American Composers Forum (ACF). Sarah has commissioned and premiered over seventy compositions for solo piano. Composers who have dedicated works to Cahill include John Adams, Terry Riley, Frederic Rzewski, Pauline Oliveros, Julia Wolfe, Roscoe Mitchell, Annea Lockwood, and Ingram Marshall. Keyboard Magazine writes, “Through her inspired interpretation of works across the 20th and 21st centuries, Cahill has been instrumental in bringing to life the music of many of our greatest living composers.”

The season of chamber music by nationally and internally known musicians is the only series of its kind in the Grand Forks area. Chamber music can include both vocal and instrumental music played by a small ensemble with only one player to a part. Although it is often associated with string quartets, nearly any instrument and music from any musical period including modern and contemporary, can be found on a chamber music concert program.

All concerts are held on Sunday afternoons at 2 pm in the Museum galleries. Tickets range from $10 to $35. Discounted season tickets are also available. Museum members receive discounted tickets and children 12 and under are free, as are students from 12-18 who play in their school orchestra or band. Seating is limited and guests are encouraged to buy their tickets in advance and come early for the best seats. Tickets available at ndmoa.com or by calling 701-777-4195.

Full Concert Series Schedule:

Sarah Cahill, piano, October 11, 2026

Amit Peled, cello, November 22, 2026

Formosa Quartet, February 21, 2027

Angel Island Oratorio | Del Sol Quartet, April 4, 2027

Poulenc Trio with Hangzhi Wang, accordion, May 2, 2027

Free parking is available adjacent to the museum; the museum is ADA accessible.