Conductor

This extraordinary program presents a work of the powerful, contemporary voice of composer Carlos Simon, whose works resonate with history, hope, and heart. Pianist Artina McCain returns to perform George Gershwin’s brilliant Piano Concerto in F, a work that blends classical traditions with the bold rhythms of jazz and pulses with energy, romance, and the unmistakable spirit of the American Jazz Age. The program closes with Peter Boyer’s Ellis Island: Dream of America, a poignant and inspiring tribute to the immigrants who shaped the American story. Innovative in its format, the work brings elements of the theater and multimedia into the concert hall, employing actors and projected historical images from the Ellis Island archives. The spoken texts for the work come from the Ellis Island Oral History Project, an historic collection of interviews with actual immigrants about their experiences emigrating to America. This dynamic work reminds us of the hopes, struggles, and dreams that built a nation.

EPSG:4326

ELLIS ISLAND: Dream of America

Patricia Reser Center for the Arts

Mt. Hood Community College

This epic evening begins the SCP's celebration of America's 250th Anniversary as we present Peter Boyer's Ellis Island: The Dream of America. Actors and orchestra weave the immigrant experience into living tableau, melding music and drama to celebrate hope, struggle, and new beginnings under the baton of Morihiko Nakahara and the direction of Chad Henderson (The Chad Henderson Co.)

The Dream of America

University of South Carolina

This stirring concert is a celebration of American creativity with a patriotic blend of classical, jazz, and Broadway influences. We open with Charles Ives’s enigmatic The Unanswered Question, a work that floats in timeless stillness as it contemplates life’s eternal mysteries, and the premiere of Caprice by Boyd Eagle, a 20th century Native American jazz musician and composer and grandfather of our very own Maestro Daniel Hege. The celebration continues with Peter Boyer’s Rhapsody in Red, White and Blue, a modern showpiece for piano and orchestra that pulses with patriotic spirit and cinematic grandeur. Pianist Jeffrey Biegel is performing Boyer’s contemporary Rhapsody in all 50 states, and this performance represents Kansas.

Rhapsody in Red, White & Blue

Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center

Semiquincentennial Celebration: The New World

Carson Center for the Performing Arts

Thomas Wilkins leads a true celebration of American music! Experience the charm of Copland’s iconic ballet Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes, followed by Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with 18-time Grammy-winning banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck. To close, the NSO presents the world premiere of Peter Boyer and Joseph Sohm’s American Mosaic, an NSO co-commission featuring stunning video imagery, powerful live narration, and quintessential American melodies to celebrate the land, people, and spirit of the United States for its 250th birthday.

American Mosaic

Kennedy Center

The second celebration in our America 250 series begins with Peter Boyer’s ELLIS ISLAND: The Dream of America. This work was released in 2002 and tells the story of the immigrant experience of searching for new life in the New World. Leonard Bernstein’s non-traditional Symphony No. 2, The Age of Anxiety, inspired by Auden’s Pulitzer Prize-winning poetry, brings the evening to a jazzy close.

American Dreams (Celebrating America 250)

Purdue University Fort Wayne

SADDLE UP, FOLKS, as we bring you a night of the tales from yesteryear and the trailblazing sounds of the new. We start with the old-timey in Aaron Copland’s Western ballad of Billy the Kid, and Debussy’s sensual Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun. Then, hang on to your hats with Boyer’s exciting Fanfare, Hymn, and Renewal and prepare to be amazed when Viet Cuong’s Re(new)al rides in with a bold, high-energy new piece performed by the fantastic Sandbox Percussion Ensemble.

Billy the Kid

Washburn University

SEASON FINALE! Celebrating the centennial of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, pianist Jeffrey Biegel and composer Peter Boyer launched the Rhapsody National Initiative with Rhapsody in Red, White, & Blue, a vibrant new work reflecting the American landscape, with the pulse, energy, and beauty of our shared identity as Americans. Western Piedmont Symphony is the only orchestra in North Carolina represented in this national symphonic project. Also on the program is the celebrated masterpiece Rhapsody in Blue, the lyrical and vivid Symphony No. 1 by living composer Adolphus Hailstork, and the mesmerizing Bolero by Ravel.

NEW DATE-Masterworks: Rhapsody in Blue

Lenoir-Rhyne University

We all share a love for our homeland, and in this final event of our season, we celebrate some of the voices which combine to make Juneau our home. From iconic American music by Aaron Copland, to the Alaska premiere of Peter Boyer's Rhapsody in Red, White, and Blue with internationally renowned pianist Jeffrey Biegel, to original works from Juneau singer-songwriter Annie Bartholomew, we'll be celebrating what it means to be an Alaskan and an American. A special performance of music from Four Moons by Louis Ballard, widely regarded to be the father of Native American composition, marking the first time the JUneau Symphony has performed music by an Indigenous composer. 

Summer Mainstage Concert - Homelands

Juneau-Douglas High School

Masterworks 4: A Gershwin Celebration

Troy University

Jon Kimura Parker, a veteran of the international concert stage, brings his infectious enthusiasm to Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto, which travels from turbulence to serenity to exuberance. Brahms’ astonishing Fourth Symphony is a perennial audience favorite. The program opens with a personal touch in the premiere of Horizons, a commission from American composer Peter Boyer to honor longtime Sarasota Orchestra Artistic Administrator Pat Joslyn.

Grand Treasures

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

Sarasota Orchestra presents Grand Treasures

Aaron Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man” is a powerful tribute to the American spirit. Calvin Custer’s “A Salute to the Big Apple” follows, celebrating the vibrant energy of New York City. George Gershwin’s famous “Rhapsody in Blue,” featuring guest pianist Jeffrey Biegel, blends classical music with jazz influences in an iconic American masterpiece. 

50 Together For All

Kahilu Theatre

Rhapsody In Blue

Veterans Memorial Auditorium

### Event Description: Ellis Island: Dream of America

**Date and Time:**
- **Saturday, March 8, 2025**
- **7:30 PM - 9:30 PM**

**Location:**
- **Coronado Performing Arts Center**
- **314 North Main Street, Rockford, IL, 61101, United States**

**Event Overview:**
Join the Rockford Symphony Orchestra for a captivating evening celebrating the rich history of immigration in Rockford through the powerful performance of "Ellis Island: Dream of America." This concert will feature cinematic music intertwined with poignant excerpts from the diaries of immigrants who passed through Ellis Island, composed by Peter Boyer.

**Program Highlights:**
- **Kinan Azmeh, clarinet**
- **Marquez, Conga del Fuego**
- **Azmeh, Suite for Improvisor and Orchestra**
- **Boyer, Ellis Island: Dream of America**

**Special Guest:**
- **Kinan Azmeh**, a contemporary immigrant and renowned clarinetist, will perform as both composer and soloist in his piece, "Suite for Improvisor and Orchestra."

**Cultural Significance:**
Rockford's unique culture, shaped by its diverse immigrant population, will be celebrated through this musical journey. The overture "Conga del Fuego" will pay homage to the region’s vibrant Latino community.

**Tickets:**
- **Subscription:** Available now
- **Single Tickets:** On sale starting July 1

**Additional Information:**
- **Add to Calendar:** [Google Calendar](#) | [ICS](#)

Experience an evening of moving music and storytelling that honors the dreams and journeys of America's immigrants. Don't miss this extraordinary event at the Coronado Performing Arts Center.

Ellis Island: Dream of America

Friends of the Coronado

Ellis Island: The Dream of America, by Peter Boyer, celebrates the historic American immigrant experience and the American dream. Innovative in its format, the work brings elements of the theater and multimedia into the concert hall, employing actors and projected historical images from the Ellis Island archives.

Ellis Island: The Dream of America

Toledo Museum of Art

Mahler Symphony No. 1

Ambassador Auditorium

Join us on this Starry Night as the BSO opens our 71st season with the Eastern US Premiere of Peter Boyer’s Horizons. The eclectic program also features Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, When You Wish Upon a Star, music from Star Trek: Into Darkness, and even an ABBA Medley.

Brevard Symphony Orchestra Signature Series Opening Night: Starry Night

King Center for the Performing Arts

Join the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra (DSSO) for a spectacular evening celebrating American music at its finest with the concert event "American Rhapsody." This special performance is set to take place on September 21st, from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM at the DECC Symphony Hall, located at 350 Harbor Drive, Duluth, MN 55802.

"American Rhapsody" marks the 100th anniversary of George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue," a cornerstone of American music. The DSSO is thrilled to feature internationally acclaimed pianist Jeffrey Biegel, who will breathe life into Gershwin's masterpiece. The concert will also premiere Peter Boyer's "Rhapsody in Red, White & Blue," a vibrant new work that pays tribute to Gershwin's legacy. Additionally, the program includes Antonin Dvorak's "American Suite" and Samuel Barber's "Symphony No.1," showcasing the rich tapestry of American music.

This event promises to be an unforgettable night of music that celebrates the spirit and innovation of American composers. Don't miss your chance to experience this unique blend of classic and contemporary works performed by the talented musicians of the DSSO.

Tickets are available for purchase now. For more information and to secure your seats, visit the DSSO website or contact the box office at 218-623-DSSO (3776). The office, located at 506 West Michigan Street, Suite 7, Duluth, MN 55802, is open weekdays from 10am-5pm. Join us for an evening of exceptional music and community celebration.

American Rhapsody

Duluth Entertainment Convention Center

Celebrate Independence Day with a FREE CONCERT. Gather in the comfort of the Pikes Peak Center and hear an exhilarating array of patriotic favorites and fanfares that resonate with the spirit of America.

Star Spangled Symphony

Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts

Witness the captivating brilliance of pianist Vijay Venkatesh as he performs Rachmaninoff's Third Piano Concerto, a masterpiece filled with passion and virtuosity. Accompanying this grand composition is Peter Boyer's poignant 'Ellis Island: The Dream of America,' a musical narrative that echoes the hopes and dreams of immigrants. Experience a concert where piano mastery meets orchestral grandeur, creating a symphonic journey through the emotions of the human spirit.

Rach 3 & The American Dream

Lancaster Country Day School

Yo-Yo Ma returns! One of the most important artists of our time, Yo-Yo Ma’s musicianship and soulful playing are unmatched. He has performed for audiences around the world and is a true ambassador for both music and humanity.

Ma strives to foster connections that stimulate the imagination and reinforce our humanity. A UN Messenger of Peace, he has partnered with communities and institutions across the globe to develop programs advocating for a more human-centered world. He is the recipient of the Avery Fisher Prize the National Medal of the Arts, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Kennedy Center Honors, the Polar Music Prize, and the Birgit Nilsson Prize.

Come feel the joy, the magic, and the emotion, at this very special one-night-only concert.

Yo-Yo Ma

Linda Ronstadt Music Hall

Open Rehearsal: Symphonie Fantastique

Veterans Memorial Auditorium (The VETS)

The Fargo-Moorhead Symphony, together with orchestras across the country, was proud to join the nationwide commission for “Rhapsody in Red, White, and Blue” with a goal of performances in all fifty states.

Masterworks 5 American Celebration

North Dakota State University

This concert includes two of the most iconic pieces of American music: Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring Suite, and George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Pianist Jeffrey Biegel, a longtime champion of Gershwin’s Rhapsody, commissioned acclaimed American composer Peter Boyer to compose a new work in celebration of that work’s centennial in February 2024. Boyer’s brand new Rhapsody in Red, White & Blue is being performed by orchestras around the United States, and the composer will conduct his own work for this SSO concert. Completing the program are Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man, and the bravura Fanfare Ritmico by Jennifer Higdon.

An American Celebration

Symphony Hall, Springfield

In Person Masterwork #4

Williamsburg Community Chapel

This program draws on connections to Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley while honoring Ochsner’s Finnish-American roots.

Unknown & Gorgeous: River & Iron

Stambaugh Auditorium

The culmination of decades-long artistry and mentorship, The Maestro and His Maestro showcases the synergy between Maestros Lawrence Golan and Robert Spano as they spearhead an inspiring performance that charts the generations. Conductors from the DPO’s 4th Annual International Conducting Workshop will trade off movements within a program which spans musical eras and genres, competing for a chance to return and conduct the orchestra at a future DPO concert in 2024-25.

The Maestro and His Maestro

Central Presbyterian Church Denver

George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” is celebrating its centennial. The 1924 musical composition by the iconic George Gershwin is one of his most recognizable creations in American music history. To celebrate the centennial, pianist Jeffrey Biegel created the Rhapsody National Initiative and, Peter Boyer composed a new work for piano and orchestra inspired by the iconic masterpiece. The new work is titled by Mr. Biegel for Mr. Boyer to compose: “Rhapsody in Red, White & Blue.” To showcase this new work, Biegel envisioned the initiative, where the new work is performed in every state over three years. It is a three-year project for 50 states to have their performances of the new work symbolizing the American flag, while celebrating our diversity and unity through music.

A “Rhapsody in Red, White, And Blue”

Florida SouthWestern State College

What do YOU stand for? What does it mean to stand for something? How does one do so? Join Associate Conductor Moon Doh, along with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and special guests, for a dynamic exploration of musicians, dancers, poets, and other leaders who have used the power of the arts to express their core convictions.

Schooltime: The Courage to Stand

Heinz Hall

Celebrating the centennial of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, pianist Jeffrey Biegel pairs this iconic work with the Louisiana premiere of a new American rhapsody by Peter Boyer. Hanson’s “Romantic” Symphony overflows with lyricism.

Willis-Knighton Masterworks Series: Rhapsody in Blue

Riverview Theatre

The NMSO joins a 50-state consortium to present the Mississippi premiere of a new work for piano and orchestra written by Grammy-nominated composer Peter Boyer. This new work, Rhapsody in Red, White, and Blue, was written as a companion piece  to George Gershwin’s famous Rhapsody in Blue, which is also featured on the program.

Rhapsody in Red, White, and Blue

Link Centre Concert Hall

Gershwin, Boyer, and Rosauro

St Andrew's Presbyterian Church

DesertView Performing Arts Center

Enjoy a blend of jazz and classical music with our opening concert of the season. The program features Peter Boyer's dynamic “Rhapsody in Red, White, and Blue” and the iconic “Rhapsody in Blue” by George Gershwin. The concert also includes Beethoven's mighty “Symphony No. 5,” which exudes the same enthusiasm and energy as a rhapsody. With the renowned pianist Jeffrey Biegel as soloist on Boyer and Gershwin, this concert is not to be missed.

Rhapsodies

Buddy Holly Hall

Hop on board with the FVSO at our Voyages concert featuring Peter Boyer’s phenomenal work “Ellis Island: The Dream of America” which combines music, images, and spoken word from immigrants that traveled to the United States from 1892 to 1954. This classical concert will take you overseas to experience the immigrant journey to a new world.

Voyages

University of Saint Joseph

Jeffrey Biegel returns to the ESO with a new piano concerto by Peter Boyer, Rhapsody in Red, White and Blue. Commissioned by the Rhapsody National Initiative, a consortium of orchestras, including the ESO, this will be the Illinois premiere. It is inspired by the anniversary of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Mr. Biegel and the ESO will perform both pieces. Rounding out this concert is Gershwin’s short piece called “Promenade, (Walking the Dog)” written for the movie Shall We Dance, Leonard Bernstein’s “Suite” from the film score for On the Waterfront, and Samuel-Coleridge Taylor’s Petite Suite de Concert. The program will be hosted by WFMT’s LaRob K. Rafael.

Rhapsody in Red, White and Blue

Northwestern University


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The season finale features a celebration of American voices and symphonic grandeur. Valerie Coleman’s Seven O’Clock Shout, written in honor of frontline workers during the pandemic, leads into Peter Boyer’s patriotic Rhapsody in Red, White, and Blue, performed by guest pianist Jeffrey Biegel. Howard Hanson’s choral-orchestral Song of Democracy and Respighi’s sweeping Pines of Rome bring the season to a majestic close.

Pursuit of Happiness

Natrona County High School

America's 250th Birthday Orchestral Celebration

Cannon Center For The Performing Arts

University of Memphis

Celebrate the American spirit with a concert that honors history, resilience, and the power of music to tell our nation’s story. Peter Boyer’s American Mosaic, a newly commissioned work, weaves together images by renowned photographer Joe Sohm, music, and the voices of America in a powerful reflection on the nation’s past and future. The program concludes with William Dawson’s Negro Folk Symphony, composed in 1934, a masterful fusion of African American spirituals and symphonic grandeur, bringing the season to a triumphant and deeply moving close.

Join Artistic and Music Director Designate Alexander Shelley and pianist Conrad Tao for a bold celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. Experience Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F alongside the West Coast premiere of Peter Boyer and Joe Sohm's American Mosaic, a powerful reflection of America’s diverse and dynamic spirit. This concert honors our nation’s past, present, and future—an unforgettable tribute to 250 years of cultural innovation.

Shelley Conducts America at 250

Segerstrom Center for the Arts

Kalena Bovell leads the Grant Park Orchestra in the wistful lyricism of Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto with acclaimed violinist Will Hagen. Jessie Montgomery’s Starburst opens the concert with a bang, and actors from Lookingglass Theatre Company bring to life Peter Boyer’s innovative multimedia work Ellis Island: The Dream of America.

Barber Violin Concerto

Millennium Park

The high-flying aerialists of Troupe Vertigo join the Grant Park Orchestra led by Enrico Lopez-Yañez, performing eye-popping feats to classical works and film scores, including Star Wars, Star Trek, Disney’s Up and more.

Cirque: A Space Odyssey

Just how far can dreams take us? Beethoven’s King Stephen Overture pays homage to the national hero of Hungary who, according to legend, received his crown because of a dream.

But sometimes dreams can take us to new worlds: American Peter Boyer’s Ellis Island is a poignant multi-media exploration of the immigrant experience with dialogue by actors from local community theater, DreamWrights. The program is accompanied by images from the first place many of our immigrant forebears landed in this brave new world.

The American composer Quinn Mason, inspired by the brilliant women in her life, crafted She Dreams of Flying to highlight the artistry of the orchestra. Finally, our own Music Director Lawrence Golan has taken inspiration from the Old Testament’s dream interpreter to create Joseph, the Dream Reader; the York Symphony is honored to host the east coast premiere of this exciting new work.

Conductor

Peter Boyer

Events

Upcoming events

Apr 19, 2026

Rhapsody in Red, White and Blue · Evanston Symphony Orchestra

Apr 25, 2026

Pursuit of Happiness · Wyoming Symphony Orchestra

2 - 3 May, 2026

America's 250th Birthday Orchestral Celebration · Memphis Symphony Orchestra

May 7, 2026

American Mosaic · The Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra

28 - 30 May, 2026

Shelley Conducts America at 250 · Pacific Symphony

Past events

14 - 15 Mar, 2026

ELLIS ISLAND: Dream of America · Orchestra Nova Northwest

Mar 14, 2026

The Dream of America · South Carolina Philharmonic

About

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