On commissioning new music
“There’s something magical about creating music that speaks to the present moment. Every premiere feels like an adventure: you’re stepping into a sound world that’s never been heard before.”
Commissioning is at the center of Rabia’s work, with a particular commitment to women composers. Each new piece begins long before the first performance, in conversation with the person writing it.
“Each collaboration is a dialogue. These composers all have such distinct voices, and working with them pushes me to think differently about sound and interpretation.”
Her work with composer Niloufar Nourbakhsh is a case in point. Nourbakhsh was personable and easy to talk with, and the two shaped the piece together, trading ideas as it took form. Rabia gave its premiere in Boston with pianist Aba Nazar, and she was struck by how Nazar mastered the score’s extended techniques right from the first rehearsal. That collaborative approach is how Art Measures came about. Rabia approached Jennifer Higdon about a new work for violin and piano, and in March 2026 the composer came to Chicago to workshop it with her before hearing its premiere.
That way of working shapes how she approaches the standard repertoire too. She describes the two as intertwined rather than separate: playing Beethoven or Brahms informs how she approaches a brand-new piece, and new music gives her fresh insight into the classics. Both, she says, require imagination and a willingness to listen: to the composer, to the score, and to the audience.
“I look for music that resonates with me on a deep level: something I feel passionate about and can share honestly with an audience. It’s not just about technical brilliance; it’s about emotional truth.”
Her advice to younger musicians drawn to new music is direct: approach every piece as a dialogue, reach out to living composers and talk with them, then dig into the score and look for the nuances that make the music speak. Experiment with bowings, explore colors, and take risks. That, she says, is where you find your own voice.
“Play works you are passionate about and follow your instincts: the audience will sense when you’re sharing your true self.”