Reena Esmail

What Reena Esmail does

Reena Esmail is an independent composer whose practice is grounded in the systematic synthesis of Hindustani and Western classical music traditions. Her work spans orchestral, choral, chamber, vocal, and concert band genres, with a catalog of more than 100 original works (nearly 200 including alternate instrumentations). Her technical approach integrates Hindustani raags, taals, and improvisatory practices (alap, taan, mukhra) into Western classical forms, a methodology documented in her Yale doctoral thesis 'Finding Common Ground: Uniting Practices in Hindustani and Western Art Musicians.' She holds a BM from The Juilliard School (2005) and MM/MMA/DMA from Yale School of Music (2011, 2014, 2018), and has studied Hindustani music directly with Srimati Lakshmi Shankar, Gaurav Mazumdar, and Saili Oak under a Fulbright-Nehru grant.

Her revenue model is multi-stream and project-based, drawing on commissioned compositions from orchestras and choirs, sheet music sales through her own e-commerce shop (152+ SKUs at $3.10-$250) and Oxford University Press (choral works including TaReKiTa, which has sold over 100,000 copies worldwide), orchestral rental fees via CF Peters, performance and streaming royalties across multiple albums on Azica Records and other labels, and residency fees from institutions including the Los Angeles Master Chorale (2020-2025), Seattle Symphony (2020-21), Tanglewood (2023), Spoleto (2024), and Marlboro (2025). She co-founded and co-directs Shastra, a non-profit with Saili Oak that runs cross-tradition collaborative programs.

Her customer base consists of major U.S. orchestras and chorales (Philadelphia Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, LA Master Chorale, Seattle Symphony, Chicago Sinfonietta, Albany Symphony, Pacific Symphony, Cathedral Choral Society), chamber ensembles (Brooklyn Rider, Imani Winds, Viano Quartet, Ember, Tesserae Baroque), educational institutions (Interlochen Arts Academy), and international festivals (Edinburgh, São Paulo, Aspen, Bellingham, Tanglewood, Spoleto, Marlboro). The practice operates as a sole proprietorship out of Altadena, California, with commercial distribution through Oxford University Press, CF Peters, Murphy Music Press, Azica Records, and direct digital channels. Marketing is driven by professional networks, festival residencies, earned media (PBS Great Performances, LA Times, podcasts), social media (Instagram), and streaming platforms.

Name

Reena Esmail

Legal name

Reena Esmail

Website

https://reenaesmail.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Reena Esmail is an independent composer who writes orchestral, choral, chamber, vocal, and band music synthesizing Hindustani and Western classical traditions, serving major U.S. orchestras, choirs, chamber ensembles, and festivals through commissions, sheet music sales, residencies, and recording royalties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contemporary Classical Music Composition

NAICS

Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (711510)

akta.pro primary industry

Arranging & Orchestration (MPAIAHAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Session Musicians & Vocalists (MPAIAHAC)

Keywords

• Contemporary classical composition
• Orchestral commissions
• Choral music
• Cross-cultural composition
• Chamber music

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Commissioned Compositions: Esmail receives commissions from orchestras, choirs, and ensembles for original works. Commissioning ensembles include Los Angeles Master Chorale, Seattle Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, and others. Each commission is a project-based fee.
2. Sheet Music Sales: Digital and print sheet music sales through her own online shop (reenaesmail.com/shop) and through Oxford University Press for choral works. The shop lists over 152 products across categories including Orchestra, Choir, Chamber Music, Solo/Unaccompanied, and Vocal. Pricing ranges from $3.10 to $250.00 per piece.
3. Orchestra Rental / Performance Fees: Orchestral works are rented for performance, requiring perusal requests through a specific form. Orchestras and ensembles pay rental fees for performing her orchestral works.
4. Residency Fees: Esmail has served as Composer-in-Residence with Los Angeles Master Chorale (2020-2025) and Seattle Symphony (2020-21), and participated in residencies at Tanglewood Music Center, Spoleto Festival, Marlboro Music Festival, and academic institutions, generating residency income.
5. Album Sales / Streaming Royalties: Her works appear on multiple GRAMMY-nominated albums (The Singing Guitar by Conspirare, BRUITS by Imani Winds, Healing Modes by Brooklyn Rider) generating performance/streaming royalties. Albums like Terra Infirma (Yolanda Kondonassis), See Me (choral works), and The Tipping Point (Santa Fe Desert Chorale) are released on streaming platforms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Reena Esmail is a composer who creates concert music for orchestra, choir, band, and chamber ensembles that synthesizes Hindustani and Western classical music traditions. She delivers these offerings through commissioned original works, sheet music sales (direct and via publishers), orchestral rental agreements, composer-in-residence programs, and album releases with major recording artists.

Product overview

Reena Esmail is a composer offering a catalog of over 100 original works (nearly 200 including alternate instrumentations) spanning orchestral, choral, vocal, chamber, and concert band genres. Her music weaves together Hindustani and Western classical traditions. The core offerings include orchestral works, choral works (many published by Oxford University Press), chamber music, vocal compositions for both Western and Hindustani voices, and concert band pieces. Additional offerings include pedagogical materials for students, community music for amateur/professional collaboration (some free), and the highly successful TaReKiTa choral piece with over 100,000 copies sold worldwide. Works are available through the online shop, major music publishers (Oxford University Press, Murphy Music Press, CF Peters), and streaming platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Shastra: A non-profit organization co-directed by Reena Esmail and Saili Oak that invites Hindustani musicians and Western-trained composers to teach one another their traditions and build new work together.

Products and services

• Orchestral Works

Quantifiable outcome

• TaReKiTa has sold over 100,000 copies worldwide
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers25 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Philadelphia OrchestracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Co-commissioning Concerto for Orchestra (with San Francisco Symphony), to premiere May 2027, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Also featured in 26/27 season announcement.
• San Francisco SymphonycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Co-commissioning Concerto for Orchestra (with Philadelphia Orchestra). Revised Black Iris premiered by SFS under Esa-Pekka Salonen (June 2023). World premiere May 2027.
• Oxford University PresscoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2026Many choral works published by Oxford University Press including TaReKiTa (sold 100,000+ copies), If the River Leaves Without Me, and A Winter Breviary. OUP manages distribution and sales for these publications.
• National Symphony OrchestracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Lead commissioner of Double Concerto for violin, piano, and orchestra (for Gil Shaham and Orli Shaham). Premiered February 26-28, 2026 at the Kennedy Center, conducted by David Robertson.
• Aspen Music FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Co-commissioned Double Concerto with NSO and Virginia Arts Festival. Premiered August 14, 2026 at Aspen Music Festival.
• Virginia Symphony and Arts FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Co-commissioned Double Concerto with NSO and Aspen Music Festival.
• International Clarinet AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026ICA consortium commission for new work for clarinet and piano. Consortium announced January 2, 2026 at clarinet.org.
• Cleveland OrchestraminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Commissioned orchestral arrangement of Kuttanadan Punjayile (from Jahaan). Reviewed December 2025 at Severance Hall holiday concert.
• Hillary Hahn and Matthias GoernecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Commissioned bold 30-minute work for violin and baritone, premiering October 24, 2026 at Spivey Hall in Atlanta. Texts by Paul Celan and Rebecca Gayle Howell.
• São Paulo Symphonic OrchestraminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Performing RE|Member on August 30, 2026, conducted by Xian Zhang. Programmed alongside Prokofiev.
• Yolanda KondonassiscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Commissioned Terra Infirma, a concerto for harp, percussion and string orchestra, co-created with Kondonassis who plays both harp and percussion. Premiered October 30, 2025 at Interlochen Arts Academy. Album released April 17, 2026 on Azica Records. Described as 'as much a concerto for harp and percussion as it is a one-woman monodrama.'
• Interlochen Arts AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Multi-visit residency. Premiered Terra Infirma with Interlochen Arts Academy Orchestra (October 2025) and Curiosity from Earth Speaks with Interlochen Arts Academy Chorus.
• Marlboro Music FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 20252025 Composer in Residence at Marlboro Music Festival. Beautiful review of residency published in Marlboro Commons News.
• Viano QuartetminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Commissioned new string quartet, premiering August 2026.
• Tesserae BaroqueminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Co-commissioned Meera Kahe (Hindustani/period instrument version of Subah Shaam) with Tesserae Baroque. Premiered February 8, 2025.
• Spoleto Festival USAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Chamber Music Composer-in-Residence at Spoleto Festival USA in 2024.
• Cathedral Choral SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Commissioned Exaltations (three interstitial movements for SATB double choir and brass ensemble), premiered March 10, 2024, conducted by Steven Fox. Also commissioned Alleluia movement.
• Tanglewood Music CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Co-Curator at Tanglewood Music Center (Boston Symphony Orchestra) in 2023. RE|Member performed at Tanglewood (July 2023).
• Santa Fe Desert ChoraleminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Commissioned The Tipping Point (premiered July 2021). Recording of The Tipping Point included on upcoming album Roots & Rivers (June 2026).
• Los Angeles Master ChoralecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Five-year Swan Family Artist-in-Residence (2020-2025). Composed major choral works including Malhaar: A Requiem for Water and Jahaan: Five Indian Folk Songs. The residency produced two major commissioned works and significant programming of her choral catalog.
• Seattle SymphonycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 20202020-21 Composer-in-Residence. Commissioned and premiered RE|Member (2021) and Concerto for Hindustani Violin and Orchestra (2022) for Kala Ramnath.
• Chicago SinfoniettaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Commissioned Black Iris (originally titled #metoo), premiered March 2018 under Mei-Ann Chen. The work was revised and retitled for subsequent performances.
• Brooklyn RiderminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Commissioned Zeher string quartet (premiered November 2018). Zeher appeared on Brooklyn Rider's GRAMMY-nominated album Healing Modes (March 2020).
• Shastra (non-profit)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Co-founded and co-directs Shastra, a non-profit organization with longtime collaborator Saili Oak. Shastra Summer Collaborative invites Hindustani musicians and Western-trained composers to teach one another their traditions and build new work together.
• Imani WindsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Featured on GRAMMY-nominated album BRUITS by Imani Winds.
• American Composers OrchestracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Commissioned Avartan (chamber orchestra), premiered April 1, 2016 at Carnegie Hall under George Manahan. Featured on ACO's Orchestra Underground series.
• ConspirareminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Commissioned Quarantine Madrigals (2020). Featured on GRAMMY-nominated album The Singing Guitar. Home ensemble of composer Amy Fogerson.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mason Bates: Composer who fuses electronic music and orchestral classical traditions. Comparable as a contemporary composer building a career through major symphony commissions (Seattle Symphony, etc.) and institutional residencies.
• Gabriela Lena Frank: Contemporary composer known for cross-cultural synthesis (Latin American and Western classical traditions). Operates similarly through orchestral/chamber commissions, residencies, and educational outreach, with a comparable niche-positioning strategy.
• Joan Tower: Contemporary American composer with extensive orchestral and chamber catalog commissioned by major institutions (St. Louis Symphony, etc.). Comparable as a composer whose catalog breadth drives recurring performance fees and rental income.
• Vijay Iyer: Composer-pianist who similarly fuses South Asian musical traditions with Western classical and jazz. Comparable as an academic-trained composer (Harvard, Manhattan School of Music) building a major institutional career in cross-cultural contemporary music.
• Tania León: Cuban-American Pulitzer-winning composer working at the intersection of Afro-Caribbean and Western classical traditions. Comparable as a cross-cultural composer with elite institutional placements and a major teaching/mentorship profile.
• Missy Mazzoli: Contemporary classical composer with major opera, orchestral, and chamber commissions (LA Phil, Carnegie Hall, etc.). Comparable as a contemporary composer of her generation with major-institutional commission profile, though different aesthetic.
• Du Yun: Chinese-American composer and Pulitzer Prize winner who integrates non-Western musical traditions into contemporary classical work. Comparable as a MacArthur fellow with cross-cultural positioning and major orchestral commissions.
• Tyshawn Sorey: MacArthur fellow and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer working across contemporary classical, jazz, and experimental traditions. Comparable as a contemporary composer at the top of institutional prestige with major orchestral work.

Emerging players

• Angélica Negrón: Puerto Rican contemporary composer integrating Latin American and classical traditions. Comparable cross-cultural composer with growing orchestral/chamber commission profile, though earlier in career arc.

Broad incumbents

• A.R. Rahman: Indian composer working at the intersection of Indian classical and Western popular traditions. Comparable cross-cultural positioning, though operates at much larger scale in film/popular music rather than concert commissions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@reenamusic
• Instagraminstagram.com/reenamusic

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Reena Esmail