A Call For Hmong Poets & Collaboration With Area Composers
Chippewa Valley Composers Association dreams up new musical projects, uplifts intersectional identities and untapped art forms
An emerging org in the Chippewa Valley has focused its efforts on artistic expressions yet to be explored; to illuminate the unique identities of our community’s pool of talented individuals.
Since its inception in 2024, the Chippewa Valley Composers Association (ChiVaCA) has grown into a group of local composers who gather to envision new cross-collaborations between music and the arts.
Sue Orfield, the founder of ChiVaCA – and acclaimed musician, composer in the Valley – describes the organization as a two-part dream. One part highlights collaboration with creatives across various mediums. The other positions ChiVaCA as an entity for commissions – such as creating music for video games, local dance troupes and even poetry.
From 1-4pm on April 26 in the Menomin Lounge, Price Commons (1110 Broadway St. S, Menomonie), ChiVaCA will lead a gathering of musicians and Hmong poets – an event ideated by Jay Collins, an area instrumentalist – to showcase intersections between writing and song.
“This is our second (gathering) that we are doing with poets, and people who do prose,” Orfield said. “I want this to be a hub where (art) can happen anywhere in the Chippewa Valley.”
There are already a handful of poets in the community who have submitted their work for the April gathering, Orfield said. Poetry submissions have been very much centered on how each author sees themselves as part of this culture and the broader community, she noted.
“It’s been actually eye-opening, completely beautiful – and a little sad sometimes,” Orfield said. “All the things that you feel when you read poetry or prose. I’m really excited to see what transpires with the collaboration.”
Participating poets have been paired with composers and musicians in the Valley for the next ChiVaCA gathering; Orfield still encourages any interested writers to connect with the area organization for ideas on future sessions.
“I do want to be inclusive; Particularly (at) this moment, (it’s) important to somehow support this idea of communities intersecting,” Orfield said.
Ultimately, ChiVaCA welcomes all walks of life – from amateur creatives to career professionals with decades of experience. Its yet-to-be-defined collaborations across any and all disciplines, all center around one common goal: “let’s make art together.”
Join the Chippewa Valley Composers Association for their next quarterly gathering, the “Hmong Poetry Project” from 1pm-4pm in the Menomin Lounge, Price Commons (1110 Broadway St. S, Menomonie). Visit the association’s webpage online to view its future quarterly gatherings and connect with Orfield.
