About the Project:

Hello! My name is Laura Lentz, and I am a flutist and recording artist based in Rochester.

Overview and Significance of Project
In a world increasingly structured and filled with distractions, The Serendipity Project celebrates the power of serendipity—those good chance happenings that can open the door to new possibilities. Through affordable performances at accessible venues, free interactive workshops for all ages, and a culminating album featuring recently composed works by four leading composers, this multifaceted initiative creates space where serendipitous moments can be embraced, encouraging audiences and participants to remain open to possible opportunities and connections.

The album features works by four leading and innovative composers and provide a vibrant exploration of serendipity:

 • Gabriela Lena Frank: Canto de Harawi: Amadeoso (flute, clarinet, piano)

This tone poem captures a childhood dream, bridging imagination, history, and personal experience.

 • Missy Mazzoli: Magic with Everyday Objects (flute, cello, piano)

Originally written for a trio, this piece uncovers beauty and possibility in unexpected places.

 • Marc Mellits: Discrete Structures (flute + piano; flute + string quartet)

Commissioned by a consortium of 25 wind players, this work exemplifies the balance of structure and spontaneity.
 • JacobTV: Serendipity2 (alto flute, string quartet, tabla)

This piece celebrates cross-cultural dialogue and reimagines the original improvised solo violin part for alto flute.

Collaborators include the Beo String Quartet, tabla artist Tom Nanni, cellist Svetlana Garitselova, pianist Julia Lin, pianist Jacob Ertl, and clarinetist Marcy Bacon, with recording at Blue on Blue Recording Studio (Rochester, NY).  Premiere performances slated for Pittsburgh, PA and Rochester, NY.

Workshop collaborators include Alexander Technique teacher Katie Fittipaldi and the Rochester Public Library System, including the Strong National Museum of Play.

Objectives of Project
 • Showcase newly written works that explore serendipity.

 • Advocate for living composers by documenting and sharing their works through live performances and a culminating recording.

 • Conduct free workshops for all ages that explore serendipity, inspiring participants to embrace openness and leadership.

 • Create opportunities that encourage risk-taking and the openness needed to welcome good chance moments.

 • Present performances in accessible venues.

 • Host free, interactive community workshops.

 • Complete and release Serendipity album.

 • Build partnerships with local organizations and expand audience engagement.

 • Present additional performances and workshops with new interdisciplinary collaborations.

 • Establish ongoing community programs centered on exploration and discovery.

Leadership:

As an advocate for new music, I have commissioned nearly 50 works over the past decade, including leading a 25-member consortium for Discrete Structures. My role as the artistic director of fivebyfive, whose latest album debuted at #2 on the Billboard charts, further demonstrates my leadership in the music community. This project showcases leadership through commissioning new works and fostering partnerships with visionary composers, musicians, and community members.

Performance:

I bring deep care and dedication to the works I champion, ensuring they resonate emotionally and intellectually with audiences. This project reflects my commitment to bringing new and innovative music to life through dynamic and engaging performances.

Advocacy:

By championing living composers and creating platforms for collaboration, I inspire others to take creative risks. This project underscores my dedication to ensuring today’s most innovative composers reach a broader audience, advocating for the continued relevance and impact of contemporary music.

 • January – April 2025: Final preparation for workshops and concerts.

 • May 2025: Workshops and concerts in Rochester and Pittsburgh.

 • Late May 2025: Begin recording the album.

 • Fall 2025: Release the album.

Personal Story: The Spark of Serendipity
Serendipity has played a meaningful role in my artistic journey and shaping this project. I first encountered JacobTV’s music through the program director at WXXI 91.5FM, Rochester’s classical music station. That chance introduction led to my first solo EP featuring his music, with two pieces he dedicated to me. Jacob and I then talked about several other works for me to consider, including his original Serendipity.

Around the same time, I had a striking experience that had a lasting impression on me. While walking in Mendon Ponds, one of my favorite places for respite, I lost an earring. Two weeks later, I returned to the park and crossed paths with a family who stopped me, holding the very earring I had lost. They had found it, and by an incredible coincidence, we met at the exact moment for it to be returned.

This moment sparked a fascination with serendipity and how important unexpected connections, and being open to notice them, can be in our lives and the decisions we make. This project is a celebration of unexpected connections—between people, ideas, and moments—that lead to extraordinary outcomes.