We are just days away from the actual 250th birthday of America. The music developed for this event just keeps coming. Perhaps none as expansive as the Declaration Project from pianist Lara Downes. She created it to get various takes from anyone about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This national program will end with a concert at Lincoln Center in New York.
Here are the links to other items mentioned in the podcast.
Many classical music groups have released new music or albums about the 250th birthday of America. Some are straightforward, others take a diverse view, like the Apollo Chamber Players.
Founder and Director Matthew Detrick says the album, We The People, features music from composers with disparate American experiences.
Here are links to some of the stories mentioned on the podcast.
We have been inundated with new music and performances of old patriotic music because of the 250th birthday of the United States. On this June 8th podcast, I’m starting a series on music composed and performed specifically for the big bash next month.
This time it’s Karen LeFrak’s American Promise.
You’ll also meet Dawn Carroll who was inspired to compose Songs for Mary.
It’s aboutMary Cardwell Dawson, a woman who created the National Negro Opera Company in the Pittsburgh home that housed some famous Black sports figures and music makers. BTW: The song “If the Walls Could Talk” was enhanced by Danny Borgers
June is also the month of Juneteenth and Pride month celebrations with some big firsts among them.
Here are the links to some of the other items mentioned in the podcast.
There aren’t many musicians, classical or otherwise who aren’t presenting their own versions of a birthday song for America’s 250th.
On this episode, we hear from Min Kwon, a pianist with a little activist nature on the side.
Back in 2021 she started a project called America/Beautiful. Since then she’s commissioned over 70 composers to come up with their musical versions of what’s beautiful about America at this time using the song America the Beautiful as source material. Plus it was important to her because she has two daughters, with birthdays on Presidents’ Day and on the Fourth of July.
Here are links to items mentioned in the podcast.
Many orchestras and chamber groups are celebrating the 250th anniversary of America’s founding this year.
While most of the music is a positive portrayal of the United States there is at least one musical work telling the tale of the horrific treatment of Native Americans and their lands.
The piece is Requiem For America by Mohican/Munsee-Lenape composer Brent Michael Davids. He describes it as a searing work confronting hard truths about America’s founding. It’ll be performed by the BBC Orchestra in London this month, before its American premiere in November.
Here are the links to the other stories mentioned in the podcast
Even though operas from long ago are still being performed, there’s a movement afoot to freshen them up or to do new 21st century operas.
In the case of the 1958 opera Vanessa, a production by Heartbeat Opera is doing a stripped-down version of the Pulitzer Prize winning work. It’s directed by RB Schlather.
At The Met, they are about to premiere a true 21st century opera by first-time opera composer and Grammy winner, Gabriela Lena Frank with a libretto by Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright Nilo Cruz.
Then there’s the big dispute between the Boston Symphony Orchestra and its patrons over the firing of Music Director Andris Nelsons.
Here are the links to other items mentioned in the podcast.
Composer Chinary Ung has been composing music for 60 plus years. His compositions are heavily affected by his childhood in Cambodia and the deadly events that happened there back in the mid 1970’s. But he says he’s blessed that he was able to come to America in the 1960’s to study the western style of music. Many of his compositions will be performed at the Miller Theater at Columbia University School of the Arts in its Composer Portraits series on March 26th.
Here are the links to the other events mentioned in the podcast.
Castle of our Skins – Two Positions
Misty Copeland on Timothée Chalamet
It took pianist Rebeca Omordia 8 years to create the African Concert Series in London. She was even told that African classical music wasn’t really classical at all, nor would anyone want to listen to it. The series is very popular now. So much so that Wigmore Hall in London has gifted Omordia a residency at the world class venue.
Here are links to events mentioned in the podcast:
Cincinnati Pops Orchestra album Harlem Renaissance
Conductor and Music Director JoAnn Falletta of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra has fulfilled a dream. She’s released A Hero’s Life. The album has two pieces, one from Richard Strauss and another that’s a world premiere recording of Behzad Ranjbaran’s Concerto for Violin and Orchestra. Falletta is also releasing another edition of her book of poetry, Love Letters to Music. This is in addition to the upcoming full length documentary about her nearly 30-year career at the Buffalo Philharmonic.
Here are the links to events mentioned in the podcast.
It’s Primary season. The first one is/was March 3rd, 2026. Find out here when your state is holding its primaries.
When you think of countertenors what’s the first thing that comes to your mind?
Randall Scotting, a countertenor, sees himself as a preserver of this unique male voice. He’s releasing the album Divine Impresario to celebrate one of the most popular castrato opera singers of the 17th and 18th centuries. His name is Nicolini.
Cancellations at the Kennedy Center continue even as the building is set to close for renovations.
The San Antonio (Texas) Philharmonic shuts down with hopes of returning someday.
Here are the links mentioned in the podcast for mentoring programs.
League of American Orchestras Applications now open for their Essentials of Orchestra Management program.
The Pegasus Opera Company in London is looking for opera singers.
