Hello, America: Letters to Us, from Us

Photo credit: Alfred Kan

HELLO, AMERICA: LETTERS TO US, FROM US
Carolyn Kuan, Conductor
Karen Slack, Soprano
Amanda Gookin, Cello
Cynthia Yeh, Percussion

Cosmologyscape Ensemble
Marilu Donovan, Harp
Nava Dunkelman, Percussion
JJJJJerome Ellis, Saxophone
Kite, Violin

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PROGRAM:

SHELLEY WASHINGTON – Haymaker (World Premiere; ACO Commission, developed via EarShot CoLABoratory)

JOSEPH C. PHILLIPS JR. – We Hold These Truths to Be Self-Evident (World Premiere; Co-Commissioned by Carnegie Hall and ACO, developed via EarShot CoLABoratory)

BRITTANY J. GREEN – Letters to America (World Premiere; ACO Commission, developed via EarShot CoLABoratory)

KITE and ALISHA B WORMSLEY, Cosmologyscape: 7th Ave and 57th Street (World Premiere; ACO Commission, developed via EarShot CoLABoratory)

JESSIE MONTGOMERY – Procession for solo percussionist and orchestra (New York Premiere)

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On Wednesday, March 11, the American Composers Orchestra returned to Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall for Hello, America: Letters to Us, from Us, a powerful evening of music presented as part of Carnegie Hall’s United in Sound: America at 250 festival. The program commemorated the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence through a series of musical “open letters” to America—works that examined freedom, identity, resilience, and belonging through the voices of today’s composers.

Led by conductor Carolyn Kuan, the program brought together an extraordinary group of collaborators and soloists, including soprano Karen Slack, cellist Amanda Gookin, percussionist Cynthia Yeh, and the improvisatory Cosmologyscape Ensemble. Together with the musicians of the American Composers Orchestra, they delivered an evening that explored the orchestra as a platform for storytelling, reflection, and communal expression.

Throughout the concert, audiences encountered works that approached the idea of “letters to America” from distinct perspectives—drawing on histories both personal and collective. Joseph C. Phillips Jr.’s We Hold These Truths to Be Self-Evident examined physical and spiritual ideas of freedom through music and film, while Brittany J. Green’s Letters to America, featuring Karen Slack, gave voice to the words and experiences of Black women past and present. Kite’s Cosmologyscape: 7th Ave and 57th Street, performed alongside the Cosmologyscape Ensemble, transformed dreams and symbolic languages into a collective sonic landscape, while Shelley Washington’s Haymaker—highlighting Amanda Gookin on cello and kick drum—offered a striking meditation on solidarity and strength. Jessie Montgomery’s Procession, featuring percussionist Cynthia Yeh, closed the program with a powerful exploration of ritual, movement, and collective momentum.

The program included several works produced through ACO's EarShot CoLABoratory program—a multi-year artist-led process that allows bold ideas to take shape in collaboration with performers and audiences.

Reflecting on the significance of the evening, ACO President & CEO Melissa Ngan shared, "We are so grateful to all who gathered with us from near and far to breathe, dream, and be loud together. We especially thank those who shared their words and family memories with us to bring these works to life in such a deeply personal way - it was truly an honor."

The program also drew praise from critics and audiences alike, who highlighted both the ambition of the repertoire and the energy of the performances. [REVIEW QUOTE TK].

As part of ACO’s broader mission, Hello, America: Letters to Us, from Us exemplified the orchestra’s ongoing commitment to expanding the definition of American orchestral music to ensure a vibrant future. Through works that engage history while imagining new futures, the concert demonstrated how contemporary composers continue to redefine what the orchestra can say—and whom it can speak for.