About MollyThoughtfully Redefining the Concert Experience
Both behind-the-scenes and on stage, Molly Joyce is an instrumental force behind many of our Rivington and digital projects, as well as forthcoming commissions for the deaf community. Her work is concerned with disability as a creative source. She has an impaired left hand from a previous car accident, and seeks to explore disability through composition, performance, collaboration, community engagement, and further mediums. Molly has been deemed one of the “most versatile, prolific and intriguing composers working under the vast new-music dome” by The Washington Post. Her music has additionally been described as “serene power” (The New York Times), and “unwavering…enveloping” (New York Magazine). 
Current Metropolis ProjectVisual PoeMusic
A Metropolis-commissioned cohort of composers led by Molly Joyce are developing a multi-sensory concert experience for the deaf community with MERGE Art Collective and ASL Slam founder, Douglas Ridloff. This one-of-a-kind concert experience brings together cross-disciplinary and cross-sensory collaboration of both deaf and hearing artists.“Downtown, the dynamic and fertile Metropolis Ensemble hosted Soloicity, one performance event of a four-part series curated by contemporary composer/performer Molly Joyce…completely inviting, refreshingly relaxing, and eclectic.”
OperaWire reviewed our "Light" series centered on the theme of critical motivations and innovative solutions.
Other Career Highlights
In 2017, Molly Joyce gave a TED Talk in Washington, DC, performing on her vintage toy organ that she bought on eBay. She discusses how society can recast disability as a source for creative transformation.“In addition to Ligeti himself, Han Chen’s program includes established figures like Molly Joyce and Nina Young as well as an intriguing coterie of up-and-coming compositional talents.”
The New York Times previewed the Metropolis-commissioned concert, Infinite Staircase, in September 2023.Previous Metropolis Projects
2023Loud and Soft
This video and audio interactive work from composer Molly Joyce explores the transitions from non-pitched to pitched instruments, performed by Sandbox Percussion and recorded by Continuous Motion Productions. Metropolis Ensemble produced Loud and Soft, including sound descriptions by Stefan Sunandan Honisch and Andy Slater.
2023Infinite Staircase
Metropolis and pianist Han Chen commissioned Molly Joyce to create a new work inspired by composer György Ligeti’s iconic piano etudes, presented in a solo recital at National Sawdust. The New York Times mentioned Molly as one of the "established figures... as well as an intriguing coterie of up-and-coming compositional talents."
2021House Music: United and Divided
During the pandemic, Metropolis hosted a weekly House Music video series for artists to develop original works, record from home, and share new music. Unheard-of//Ensemble performed Molly Joyce's "United and Divided" in New York City.
2021Flame Keepers
Molly Joyce was commissioned as one of the first artists to take over Flame Keepers, Metropolis Ensemble's live-streaming perpetual sonic art installation, weaving together multiple streams of music into unexpected, evolving combinations.2020Metropolis Radio: Musical Hibernation
In 2020-21, Molly Joyce produced "Metropolis Radio," a weekly series of curated Spotify playlists from Metropolis composers and performers, starting with her own "survival kit" playlist. With Molly's behind-the-scenes support, Metropolis employed over 40 artists directly through this project during the pandemic.
2020House Music: I was a figure
During the pandemic, Metropolis hosted a weekly House Music video series for artists to develop original works, record from home, and share new music. Molly Joyce performs her work "I was a figure" in collaboration with Marco Grosse recorded from her family home in Pittsburgh.
2018Light
Molly Joyce curated a Metropolis concert series at One Rivington, highlighting the wide-ranging, innovative, and socially motivated work of artists today, focusing mainly on music made by women. The series includes programs from a new composer collective, advocacy-focused initiative, and works performed by the composers themselves.
2017Lean Back and Release
Metropolis hosted a launch concert at One Rivington for Molly Joyce’s EP on New Amsterdam Records, Lean Back and Release, with a performance by Molly and violinist Kristin Lee. She further explored the styles featured on this EP with her 2020 full-length album, Breaking and Entering.