I am a self-employed writer and editor who lives in the city of St. Louis. These days I mostly write about classical music, but I got my start writing for punk rock zines, so you might say I’m versatile.
As a longtime program annotator, I have three main goals: try not to be wrong, try not to be dumb, and try not to be boring.
Please email me (rene@renespencersaller.com) if you’re interested in reprinting any of my previously published notes (I retain the copyright to hundreds of essays about the symphonic and chamber repertoire), or if you would like to discuss my rates for new (original) commissioned annotations, bios, interviews, or other writing or editing assignments. I also do some ghostwriting and marketing copy here and there, and I’m famously discreet. My current clients include the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, the Handel and Haydn Society, and Tippet Rise Art Center (in Montana).
See also: rene.s.saller@facebook.com

I have always loved the “difficult” music of Bartok and feel a deeper appreciation and understanding of it thanks to your engaging words. You are a concise writer of exploration and insight. You make the language sing and the music even more meaningful to those of us who already love it…and you!
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Oof. I somehow landed on your obituary of Vic Chesnutt, and it’s the remembrance I missed at the time. I must have been busy when he died; I knew he was gone but it somehow slipped past me, and I had loved his music. Thanks for writing that and also I hope you’re well, I haven’t seen you in many years. Bravo to your About page, I also enjoy having written but hate doing it, so much so that I have mostly avoided it in my career.
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Thanks so much for reading, Jay. It’s very nice to hear from you.
I just happened to see this message when I finally updated my blog, for the first time in several months.
I have been busy writing, but I have been very bad about updating my blog. What have you been up to, besides mostly not writing?
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Thoroughly enjoyed your notes for the 18 Feb DSO performances. Your phrasing enlightens, entertains, and entices. Thank you for sharing your talent RSS.
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What a lovely surprise to receive your kind note. It means a great deal to me when I hear from DSO patrons. I haven’t updated my blog in ages, so I’m sorry for the belated reply. You made my day!
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I so much enjoy your program notes for the Dallas Symphony concerts, especially the closer listening section. In fact, I sometimes cut these out of the booklet and slip them into the album covers and cases of my recordings. Thank you!
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Thank you so much, Steve. How kind you are! You made my day, and I’m almost glad that I didn’t see this message until today because I especially needed the dopamine hit at this very moment!
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