As a compelling performer and composer with a delicate yet expansive style, Holly McMahon studies and works as a multi-faceted musician based in Boulder, Colorado. Throughout her life, she has worked with countless artists across several mediums, including film, theater, dance, and performance art. She continues to explore the use of new instrumentations and genres through her studies of music composition, music technology, and piano performance at The University of Colorado, Boulder. She is most well known for her works for solo piano, which typically feature carefully sculpted, running lines and evocative yet comfortable rhythmic textures that have been described as “lush” and “uniquely vibrant”. McMahon is also known for absurdist works, which provide unconventional representations of ordinary occurrences. As she creates atmosphere and dimension in her writing, McMahon’s music is uniquely vibrant and breathtaking, reminding listeners how beautiful, vulnerable, and humorous it is to be a human experiencing art.

McMahon performs Eight Miniatures at a church in downtown Denver

Complete List of Works

For Solo Piano

2025    Theme Song for The Ariadne Initiative (0:30)

2024    Eight Miniatures for solo piano

I.                 Gnomes on the Ceiling (0:43)

II.               Fish (0:51)

III.             Attempts to Skip Rocks (1:33)

IV.             Something Not Broken (1:00)

V.               Chalk on the Wall (0:38)

VI.             Something Suspended (2:00)

VII.           Something Close By (2:25)

VIII.         Gnomes on the Ceiling (1:30)

            Stuck in Shadows for solo piano and poetry (2:15)

           Three Improvisation Stems for solo piano and dance (undetermined)

2023   There are Hints of Juniper in the Sky After it Rains for solo piano (5:33)

            Score for PINK for solo piano and film (2:34)

2022    All the Shades of Pomegranate for solo piano (4:07)

            Pine Tree Rag for solo piano (2:45)

            Dream for solo piano (2:31)

            Score for Dusphoros for solo piano (6:22)

           Sonatina for solo piano (3:00)

2021   Eleanor for solo piano (2:40)

           Purple for solo piano (3:00) 

For Opera

2024   The Earthworm Problem for soprano, mezzo soprano, tenor, baritone, and piano (9:45)

2023   The Pancake Opera for soprano and piano (7:40)  

For Live/Fixed Electronics

2025   Shelter in Place for live electronics and dance (12:00)

2024   Death to Computer for computer parts and live processing (6:00)

           Cactus Firma for fixed media (1:28)

2023   Now Irrelevant Noises for fixed media (5:37)

2022   Better Because of You for processing of solo piano (3:41) 

Chamber Music

2025 Four Miniatures on Conjunctions for string quartet (11:25)

I.                 Because (1:45)

II.               But (2:30)

III.             When (~2:00)

IV.             And (5:00)

Spaces for Double Bass and Found Percussion in The TANK Center Sonic Arts (1:00:00)

I.                 The Beginning for windchimes and double bass (5:30)

II.               Inhale for solo double bass (10:00)

III.             Like Water for river rocks and a concrete floor (2:30)

IV.             Heavy for solo double bass (4:00)

V.               Weightless for wine glasses and marbles (~5:00)

VI.             Nocturne for solo toy piano (5:00)

VII.           Exhale for solo double bass (6:30)

VIII.         Check for chess set and double bass (9:00)

IX.             Everything Falls Apart Eventually for the breaking of sticks (3:00)

X.               The End for windchimes and double bass (10:00)

 Pulse for string quartet (13:00)

I.                 Impulse Begins to Spread (1:45)

II.               Atrium Contract (1:15)

III.             Impulse Spreads from the AV Node (1:45)

IV.             Ventricles Contract (1:40)

V.               Repolarization (2:00)

VI.             At Rest (5:45)

 

2024   To Climb a Mountain for piano trio and ballet (~35:00)

I.                 Introduction/At the Trailhead (2:00)

Ia.         Emergence of the Chipmunk (0:10)

II.               Chipmunk Theme (1:20)

IIa.        Into the Meadow (0:15)

III.             The Caterpillars Have Teeth! (2:30)

IIIa.     Emergence of the Butterfly (0:30)

IV.             The Butterfly (4:00)

IVa.       Chipmunk Appearance 2 and Into the Aspen Grove (0:30)

V.               Building a Fairy Garden (2:45)

VI.             Leaf Cutter Ants (2:35)

VIa.      Chipmunk Appearance 3 and Through the Swamp (1:00)

VII.           A Strange Clump of Dirt (2:50)

VIIa.     To the Treeline (1:40)

VIII.         A Conversation About Friendship and the Sky (2:00)

IX.             Up a Scree Field/Recap of Themes (2:35)

X.               Conclusion/At the Summit (2:40)

XI.             Bow Music (2:25)

Wiggle for saxophone quartet (1:40)

           A Wildflower Never Learns to Fall Apart for clarinet and piano (2:00)

2023   Thunk for mezzo soprano and violin (1:30)

Some Things Keep You Awake for bassoon and cello (3:00)

2022   Contradictions for body percussion duet

I.                 Part I (3:45)

II.               Part II (5:00)

Clarinet Duet No. 2 (4:18)

Hypothesis for percussion ensemble (1:30)

2021   Blue Umbrella for violin, clarinet, and piano (3:20)

Clarinet Duet No. 1 (4:00)

For Wind Band

2025  Suite for Wind Band (10:25)

I.                 Heckled (2:30)

II.               Grand Waltz (3:00)

III.             Lullaby (4:45) 

For Soloists

2025   Happy Birthday to Driveway for solo french horn (1:20)

2024   NKAT for solo fujara (4:20)

Cite Specific Trombone Pieces for solo trombone in various outdoor locations (undetermined)

I.                 At Dusk

II.               In a Lake

III.             In Snow

IV.             Next to a Trail Marker

V.               On a Large Boulder or Rock

VI.             On a Mountain

VII.           Under a Tall Tree

2021  Water Music for solo guitar (3:00)

For Choir

2025   For a Tower of Cards for twelve performers and a deck of cards (undetermined)

2024   Anyone for any number of voices (4:15)

2023   She Flew Out for unaccompanied SATB choir (4:30)

Lead Sheets

2024  From Luke

2024  Bowl of Pennies

2021  A Tribute to the Babysitter

Something Blue

Raycon Headphones

Arrangements

2024    To Climb a Mountain, arranged for solo piano (33:00)

2022    Dissonance, by Joe Pass, arranged for violin and piano (3:15)

McMahon uses a mixing board as a synthesizer during a workshop at Neif Norf Summer Festival

McMahon workshops Four Miniatures on Conjunctions with a group of string players in Knoxville, TN

McMahon, bassist and composer Asher Dobrin, and composer Alan Mackwell pose in front of The TANK Center for Sonic Arts before McMahon’s capstone performance at her residency in Rangely, CO.

McMahon and Asher Dobrin perform in The TANK Center for Sonic Arts

McMahon explains her Suite for Wind Band to composer Kevin Day during a workshop.

McMahon performs Seven Photographs of Earth by Josie Arnett at Arnett’s senior composition recital in Lafayette, CO.