Performances
& Events
Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Declaration: Songs of Democracy, Voices of Hope
American Composers Orchestra
What does it mean to be an American today? That is the question posed by the curator, pianist and producer Lara Downes in Declaration: Songs of Democracy, Voices of Hope, featuring world premieres by three major composers. Valerie Coleman presents Life, a work for solo piano; Arturo O'Farrill offers the Liberty; and Christopher Tin closes with The Pursuit of Happiness. These latter two compositions are performed by the American Composers Orchestra, under the baton of Eric Jacobsen, with the aid of a select collective of artists and bands who represent a wide range of the American experience. Guests will include jazz bassist Christian McBride, vocalists Kurt Elling and Aoife O’Donovan, and more to be announced.
Lara Downes curates a trio of world premiere compositions reflecting on the modern meaning behind life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
American Composers Orchestra
Bronx Arts Ensemble
Program:
arr. Howard Cable, A Sousa Collection
Marco A. Jimenez, Fanfare 17.VI.1775
Miles Sargent, A Fanfare for Hope
William Zhang, Battle of the Giants and Dragonflies
Jonah Murphy, Fanfare for Charles Ives
Ignacio Rosado, Figments of a Spark
Adam Azrieli, Trotter Road
Steven R. Gerber (arr. Josh Henderson), Fanfare for the Voice of A-M-E-R-I-C-A
Karen LeFrak, Five of Brass
Alex Martinez, Worry
Anderson Davis, UN-Natural
Michael Hale, Scream
Ryan Lawrence, A Fanfare for Chaos
American Composers Orchestra
Bronx Arts Ensemble
Program:
arr. Howard Cable, A Sousa Collection
Marco A. Jimenez, Fanfare 17.VI.1775
Miles Sargent, A Fanfare for Hope
William Zhang, Battle of the Giants and Dragonflies
Jonah Murphy, Fanfare for Charles Ives
Ignacio Rosado, Figments of a Spark
Adam Azrieli, Trotter Road
Steven R. Gerber (arr. Josh Henderson), Fanfare for the Voice of A-M-E-R-I-C-A
Karen LeFrak, Five of Brass
Alex Martinez, Worry
Anderson Davis, UN-Natural
Michael Hale, Scream
Ryan Lawrence, A Fanfare for Chaos
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Virginia B. Toulmin Commission Concert
Melody Eötvös, Red Dirt | Silver Rain
Stanford Philharmonia
Bing Concert Hall | Stanford, CA
Paul Phillips, conductor
The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation Orchestral Commissions Program: American Composers Orchestra and League of American Orchestras have established two 30-orchestra consortiums, each supporting commissions by six women and nonbinary EarShot alumni. Each composer writes a 6–8 minute orchestral work and develops an educational or community-focused program presented in partnership with each orchestra. In the 2025–26 season, composers have their works performed by nineteen orchestras across the U.S.
Red Dirt | Silver Rain was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.