In 1994, the Grand Rapids Symphony, conductor Catherine Comet, mezzo-soprano Linn Maxwell Keller, and trombonist Ava Ordman collaborated on the world premiere of composer Libby Larsen’s Mary Cassatt, a cycle of seven songs for mezzo-soprano, solo trombone, and orchestra. This composition, inspired by the life and letters of the American Impressionist painter, explored the struggles Cassatt faced for acceptance and recognition in the male-dominated art scene of late 19th-century Paris. The musical performance, about a woman, composed by a woman, conducted by a woman, and featuring women soloists, subtly but powerfully made a statement for gender equality.

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Cassatt's letters are interpreted magnificently by composer Libby Larsen using 15 of Cassatt's legendary paintings projected overhead during the performance to illustrate key points in the song cycles. This semi-staged cycle of 7 movements unfolds in front of the orchestra as the trombone, portraying the alter-ego of Mary Cassatt, sensitively reveals Cassatt's innermost feelings and other characters in her letters.

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While many new works of music are premiered and then rarely heard again, Mary Cassatt proved to be an exception. Keller and Ordman went on to perform the piece numerous times across the country, including a return engagement with the Grand Rapids Symphony in 2006, 12 years after its debut.