Composer

Lawrence Brownlee is a leading figure in opera, both as a singer on the world's top stages, and as a voice for activism and diversity in the industry. Captivating audiences and critics around the globe, he has been hailed as “an international star in the bel canto operatic repertory” (The New York Times), “one of the world’s leading bel canto stars” (The Guardian), and “one of the most in-demand opera singers in the world today” (NPR).

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Great Artists Series '25: Lawrence Brownlee, tenor

560 Music Center

Karen Slack, the 2022 Sphinx Medal of Excellence winner and a featured soloist from The Jonah People, is one of today’s most celebrated sopranos. Widely admired for her voice of extreme beauty and dramatic depth, she returns to the Schermerhorn Symphony Center with her latest work, African Queens. This performance features new music written specifically for her by both African and American composers, each song reflecting the beauty, humility, passion, and power of a different queen. The program includes works by Jasmine Barnes, Damien Geter, Jessie Montgomery, Shawn Okpebholo, Dave Ragland, Carlos Simon, and Joel Thompson, with texts by Lorene Cary, Alicia Haymer, Tsitsi Ella Jaji, Deborah D.E.E.P Mouton, and Creative Collaborator Jay Saint Flono. Presented without the Nashville Symphony, this concert promises a rich tapestry of musical and narrative elements that celebrate the legacy and influence of African queens through a contemporary lens.

African Queens – Karen Slack

Nashville Symphony Schermerhorn Symphony Center

“Seven Last Words of the Unarmed” is inspired by the final words of seven unarmed black men: Kenneth Chamberlain Sr., Trayvon Martin, Amadou Diallo, Michael Brown Jr., Oscar Grant III, John Crawford III, and Eric Garner. Bookending the piece are two contrasting works by Lili Boulanger and Fauré’s expressive and beautiful Requiem.

Requiem

Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center

Dwell Together takes its name from Psalm 133: "How pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." It’s the final line from Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, which will be presented in conversation with the Pittsburgh premiere of Joel Thompson’s powerful The Seven Last Words of The Unarmed, Julia Perry’s heart wrenching Stabat Mater, and other choral works.

Dwell Together

First Baptist Church of Pittsburgh

Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church

Offering a mix of contemporary and classical composers, this concert honors Black History Month by centering three major works by African American composers. Taking its inspiration from the New Testament gospels and Haydn’s Seven Last Words, Joel Thompson’s haunting and beautiful Seven Last Words of the Unarmed (for chorus and orchestra) is the centerpiece of this program, foregrounding the difficult and painful feelings surrounding race and law enforcement.

Voices of the Unarmed: Justice, Love, Resilience

The Carolina Theatre

### Event Description: The Snowy Day - Minnesota Opera

**Event Title:** The Snowy Day

**Dates:** February 8-16, 2025

**Location:** Ordway Music Theater, 345 Washington St, St Paul, MN 55102

**Music By:** Joel Thompson

**Lyrics By:** Andrea Davis Pinkney

**Original Production By:** Omer Ben Seadia

**Synopsis:**
In the fresh snow, every footstep is marked with magic. A young boy named Peter wakes to find that the first snow of winter has fallen overnight, setting the stage for an exciting day of adventure. Peter delights in making footprints in the snow and meeting new friends before returning home to the cozy embrace of Mama and Daddy. Based on the Caldecott Medal-winning book by Ezra Jack Keats, Joel Thompson and Andrea Davis Pinkney’s "The Snowy Day" brings to the stage the fleeting but indelible magic of childhood.

**Performance Schedule:**
- **Saturday, February 8:** 7:30 PM
- **Thursday, February 13:** 7:30 PM
- **Saturday, February 15:** 5:30 PM
- **Sunday, February 16:** 2:00 PM

**Language:** Sung in English with English captions above the stage.

**Cast & Creative Team:**
- **Conductor:** Kelly Kuo
- **Director & Choreographer:** Eboni Adams
- **Peter:** Flora Hawk
- **Mama:** Karen Slack

**Additional Information:**
- **Health and Safety Protocols:** Please refer to the Minnesota Opera's guidelines.
- **Accessibility Services:** Available for attendees.
- **Tickets:** Available for purchase on the Minnesota Opera website.

**Composer Biography:**
Joel Thompson is an Atlanta-based composer, conductor, pianist, and educator.

**Connect With Us:**
Stay updated by following Minnesota Opera on social media and subscribing to the newsletter.

**Support the Opera:**
Consider donating to support the Minnesota Opera and its initiatives.

For more details and to purchase tickets, visit the Minnesota Opera's official website.

The Snowy Day

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts

Georgia-born mezzo-soprano and 2022 Grammy® nominee for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album, Jamie Barton returns to Spivey Hall in this program beautifully crafted with stellar artistic collaborators, featuring a world premiere work by Atlanta native, the Emmy Award-winning composer, Joel Thompson, who has had works performed by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Master Chorale, and many more. 

Jamie Barton, Matthew Lipman & Tamar Sanikidze

Clayton State University

Nationally acclaimed pianist Michelle Cann has garnered a reputation as one of classical music’s foremost interpreters. Lauded as “technically fearless with… an enormous, rich sound” (La Scena Musicale), Michelle Cann won a 2023 Grammy🄬 Award and was the recipient of the 2022 Sphinx Medal of Excellence. Now the Eleanor Sokoloff Chair in Piano Studies at The Curtis Institute, Cann performs with major orchestras around the world, including the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.  

Michelle Cann, piano

This brilliantly curated program featuring music by both African and American composers, strikingly represents vocal works of the past and present. Each song reflects the beauty, humility, passion and power of each Queen being celebrated. The evening centers eight new songs written for Karen by some of today’s most acclaimed composers—Jasmine Barnes, Damien Geter, Jessie Montgomery, Shawn Okpebholo, Dave Ragland, Carlos Simon, and Joel Thompson with text by Lorene Cary, Alicia Haymer, Tsitsi Ella Jaji, Deborah D.E.E.P Mouton and Creative Collaborator for the African Queens project Jay Saint Flono.

African Queens: A Recital by Karen Slack soprano and Kevin Miller piano

Aspen Meadows Resort

Join the New York Philharmonic for an unforgettable evening of music under the stars at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in Vail, Colorado. On Saturday, July 20, 2024, at 6pm, experience the Colorado premiere of "To See the Sky" by Joel Thompson, a piece that invites listeners into a realm of active introspection and is part of a powerful program led by conductor Jaap van Zweden. The evening will also feature the rousing Prelude to Act I of Wagner’s "Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg" and Brahms’ profound masterpiece, Symphony No. 4.

This concert is a highlight of the Orchestral Series at Bravo Vail, showcasing the New York Philharmonic's commitment to excellence and innovation. Joel Thompson, known for his works involving social justice, presents "To See the Sky" as a general invitation to engage in introspection, commissioned by a consortium including Bravo Vail and the New York Philharmonic.

Before the concert, attendees are invited to a pre-concert talk at 5:15 PM with Steven Bruns from the University of Colorado Boulder, held in the Gerald R Ford Amphitheater Lobby. This talk will provide deeper insights into the evening's program and the significance of the pieces being performed.

Don't miss this extraordinary evening of music and reflection. Get your tickets now for the New York Philharmonic Plays Brahms at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, a venue renowned for its stunning location and acoustics, providing the perfect backdrop for an evening of classical music.

New York Philharmonic Plays Brahms

Vail Recreation District Sports Department - Ford Park

Jaap van Zweden and the Orchestra reprise Joel Thompson’s To See the Sky, which they premiered in March. Also on the program: the Prelude to Wagner’s Die Meistersinger, full of lyricism and fanfare, and Brahms’s Fourth Symphony, in which joy and sorrow seem to be in constant battle.

Bravo! Vail: Jaap van Zweden Conducts Wagner, Joel Thompson, and Brahms

Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater

“Even having seen it, one cannot quite believe it. Such is the artistry of pianist Daniil Trifonov,” marveled the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Trifonov has been wowing Aspen audiences with his mesmerizing concert performances and recitals for several seasons. He now brings his unique interpretive stamp to the Mozart concerto that pianist Alfred Brendel called “one of the great wonders of the world.” Hear the inaugural concert of this summer’s Aspen Chamber Symphony in this wide-ranging program!

AMFS: Chamber Symphony: Trifonov Plays Mozart

Klein Music Tent

“Even having seen it, one cannot quite believe it. Such is the artistry of pianist Daniil Trifonov,” marveled the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Trifonov has been wowing Aspen audiences with his mesmerizing concert performances and recitals for several seasons. He now brings his unique interpretive stamp to the Mozart concerto that pianist Alfred Brendel called “one of the great wonders of the world.”

Chamber Symphony: Trifonov Plays Mozart

Michael Klein Music Tent

Tenor Russell Thomas, LA Opera's Artist in Residence, premieres a major new commission: a deeply personal, evening-length concert work created expressly for him by the Emmy Award-winning composer Joel Thompson with an original libretto by the celebrated poet Imani Tolliver.  

With Resident Conductor Lina González-Granados leading the LA Opera Orchestra, Fire and Blue Sky traces the origin story of an artist, a probing reflection on painful memories, deeply embedded, that reverberate into the present day. 

The concert will also feature an orchestral suite from Joel Thompson's opera, The Snowy Day.

Fire and Blue Sky

Los Angeles Music Center

Join us for a monumental event, "Transformation & Triumph," marking the grand finale of the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association's 79th season. This concert is set to take place on Sunday, April 28, 2024, at 3:00 PM at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center, located at 1450 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN. This performance promises to be a historical and moving experience, featuring the full Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra & Chorus along with Special Guest Choruses.

The theme of "Transformation & Triumph" celebrates the ongoing evolution of society on all levels—global, national, and local. The concert will showcase a selection of works that embody the spirit of progress and scientific achievement, while also addressing pressing social issues and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Highlights of the program include:

- "Overture for the Dedication of a Nuclear Reactor" by Arthur Roberts, a piece inspired by the mid-20th-century advancements in nuclear technology and composed specifically for the Oak Ridge Symphony. This overture captures the anticipation and excitement surrounding scientific progress with majestic orchestral arrangements.

- "Seven Last Words of the Unarmed" by Joel Thompson, an emotionally resonant composition that pays homage to the lives lost to racial injustice. Drawing inspiration from the final words of unarmed Black men, Thompson's work evokes a powerful array of emotions and sparks vital conversations about race, violence, and human dignity.

- Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op. 47 by Dmitri Shostakovich, a masterpiece that premiered in 1937 amidst political scrutiny and artistic censorship in the Soviet Union. This symphony navigates themes of struggle, oppression, and eventual triumph, capturing a wide range of emotions from despair to hope, and stands as a symbol of resilience.

Don't miss out on this significant event that not only showcases exceptional musical talent but also reflects on societal transformation and triumph. Purchase your tickets now for an unforgettable afternoon of music and reflection.

For tickets and more information, please visit [ORCMA's ticketing page](https://orcma.vbotickets.com/events).

Transformation & Triumph

Oak Ridge High School

Join the Oak Ridge Chorus and the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra for a profound musical experience, "Transformation & Triumph," marking the highlight of their 79th season. This special concert is scheduled for Sunday, April 28, 2024, at 3:00 PM, taking place at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center, located at 1450 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN.

"Transformation & Triumph" is a celebration of societal evolution on a global, national, and local scale. The event features the Oak Ridge Chorus performing a poignant composition by Joel Thompson, "Seven Last Words of the Unarmed," which addresses social issues through emotionally resonant music, paying homage to lives lost to racial injustice. This piece encourages a vital dialogue on race, violence, and human dignity with its haunting melodies and stirring harmonies.

The concert also includes performances of Dmitri Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op. 47, and "Overture for the Dedication of a Nuclear Reactor" by Arthur Roberts. Roberts' piece, inspired by the advancements in nuclear technology during the early years of the Manhattan Project, is specifically crafted for the Oak Ridge Symphony, adding a unique historical and local touch to the evening.

This unforgettable concert experience not only showcases musical excellence but also reflects on societal resilience and the power of transformation through art. Purchase your tickets now to be part of this significant event and join the Oak Ridge Chorus and Symphony Orchestra in a night of reflection, resilience, and remarkable music.

For more information and to secure your tickets, please visit: https://orcma.vbotickets.com/events

Oak Ridge Chorus sings with the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra

Join the Oak Ridge Chorus and the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra for a profound musical experience, "Transformation & Triumph," marking the highlight of their 79th season. This special concert is scheduled for Sunday, April 28, 2024, at 3:00 PM, taking place at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center, located at 1450 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN.

"Transformation & Triumph" is a celebration of societal evolution on a global, national, and local scale. The Oak Ridge Chorus will be performing a poignant piece by Joel Thompson titled "Seven Last Words of the Unarmed," which addresses the critical issues of racial injustice, violence, and human dignity through its emotionally resonant music. This composition pays homage to lives lost to racial injustice, encouraging a vital dialogue through its haunting melodies and powerful harmonies.

The concert will also feature Dmitri Shostakovich's "Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op. 47," and "Overture for the Dedication of a Nuclear Reactor" by Arthur Roberts. Roberts' piece, inspired by the advancements in nuclear technology during the Manhattan Project's early years, is specially crafted for the Oak Ridge Symphony, adding a unique historical and local touch to the evening.

This event promises an unforgettable concert experience where music serves as a medium for societal reflection and resilience. Don't miss the opportunity to be part of this transformative musical journey.

Tickets are available now. For more information and to purchase your tickets, please visit [https://orcma.vbotickets.com/events](https://orcma.vbotickets.com/events). Join us for an evening of music that not only entertains but inspires and provokes thought.

Guest conductor Lina Gonzalez-Granados makes her Atlanta Symphony Orchestra debut with a delightful mélange of music from the Americas. Classical meets jazz in George Gershwin’s irresistible mashup Rhapsody in Blue. Mexican composer Gabriela Ortiz’s Kauyumari taps into folk music from the Huichol people, and the ASO presents a world-premiere by Atlanta’s own Joel Thompson, an Emmy-winning composer working at the intersection of art and social justice. The concert includes a musical travelogue by Gabriela Lena Frank and the snappy Danzón No. 2 by Arturo Márquez. French pianist Cédric Tiberghien makes his ASO debut.

Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue

Atlanta Symphony Hall

Join us for the Spartanburg Philharmonic’s season finale featuring three extraordinary works.  The concert opens with An Act of Resistance by Joel Thomson followed by an American classic,  The Three Black Kings by Duke Ellington, and will conclude with Dmitri Shostakovich’s epic Symphony no. 5.  You won’t want to miss this experience!

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5

Converse University

Mendelssohn was so taken with the history and landscape of Scotland that it inspired his Symphony No. 3, which is inflected with stylistic elements of Scottish dances. The program opens with a World Premiere by Joel Thompson, followed by NY Phil Principal Trombone Joseph Alessi as soloist in Tan Dun’s concerto inspired by three ancient Chinese instruments. Jaap van Zweden conducts.

Mendelssohn, Tan Dun, and Joel Thompson

David Geffen Hall

Smiling snowmen, snow angels, and warm bubble baths: experience the magic of Ezra Jack Keats’ beloved children’s book come to life on the opera stage. The Snowy Day follows the adventures of young Peter as he explores his neighborhood on a snowy day, making new friends and encountering unexpected wonders along the way. 

Portland'5 Centers for the Arts

Hugh Wolff and the NEC Symphony perform a program of works which demonstrate just how vital music is to human struggle, and what revolution in artistic expression sounds like.

NEC Symphony + Hugh Wolff: Esmail, Thompson, Shostakovich

New England Conservatory

Join Maestro Stern and superstar mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato for a dazzling evening of music.

Chen Yi and Zhou Long are distinguished composers and longtime faculty members at the UMKC Conservatory. They’ve collaborated on Transplanted Seeds, a piece that depicts their immigrant journey. You’ll be captivated by its brilliant orchestral colors and vivacious rhythms!

Joyce DiDonato's Sparkling Songs, and Strauss' Die Fledermaus

Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

The 2023/24 Season of MusicNOW illuminates works by a dynamic collective of Black composers, the Blacknificent 7. Jasmine Barnes performs a work by Dave Ragland, and Damien Geter joins Barnes for her world premiere. From Thompson’s In Response to the Madness, which explores the composer’s angst in response to the chaos found today around the world, to Ragland’s Eight Tones for Elijah — a loving tribute to young violinist Elijah McCain who was killed by the police on his walk home — the program surveys current social themes. Also featured are works by Chicago’s own Shawn Okpebholo and Damien Geter. Nimble and accomplished improvisers, CSO Mead Composer-in-Residence Jessie Montgomery and Carlos Simon perform of-the-moment interludes, woven between the other works on the program.

Montgomery and the Blacknificent 7

Symphony Center

NHSO audience favorite Joel Thompson (A Snowy Day, To Awaken the Sleeper) offers his poignant elegie in memory of Breonna Taylor for solo cello and orchestra. This concert will also include Florence Price’s Symphony No. 1 and Mark Adamo’s Concerto with guest cellist Jeffrey Zeigler.

Breathe/Burn

Southern Connecticut State University

“A masterful player with a commanding presence” (Seen and Heard International), American pianist Michelle Cann has made a name for herself by excavating, championing, and performing under-recognized works by the great composer Florence Price. Last year, Cann became the first African American appointed to the piano faculty at the Curtis Institute of Music, as well as the recipient of the illustrious Sphinx Medal of Excellence. She has earned praise for her fascinating programs connecting the music of Black women pianist-composers Price, Hazel Scott, and Margaret Bonds, and here performs her Cal Performances debut recital featuring Price’s formally inventive Piano Sonata in E minor, alongside a haunting 2020 work by Joel Thompson inspired by a James Baldwin essay, plus works by Liszt, Ginastera, and Ravel.

University of California, Berkeley

Gil Shaham returns! His impeccable technique, radiant stage presence, and infectious joy in music-making have made him one of the foremost violinists in the world and a perennial Aspen favorite. Hear him in Korngold’s brilliantly orchestrated, richly romantic, and technically challenging Violin Concerto. With themes drawn from the composer’s film scores, the piece showcases the highest range of the instrument where it sings with a pure, ethereal voice.

Festival Orchestra: Gil Shaham, Strauss's Till Eulenspiegel

If you love shows like “American Idol” but wish there was a classical version – we have an event for you. In this performance competition, a panel of legendary artists weigh in on competing voice and vocal piano fellows. The stakes are high, with the winners’ package including a cash prize, recital opportunities, and a commission by notable composer Joel Thompson. And you have a front row seat.

Marilyn Horne Song Competition

Music Academy of the West

Carlos Kalmar leads the Grant Park Orchestra with the acclaimed Grant Park Chorus and soloists in Johannes Brahms' choral masterpiece A German Requiem*, written for the bereaved after the death of the composer's mother. The concert opens with another choral tribute, Joel Thompson' chilling cantata Seven Last Words of the Unarmed. Each movement is a setting of the last words uttered by seven unarmed men who were killed by police officers or by vigilantes—Kenneth Chamberlain, Trayvon Martin, Amadou Diallo, Michael Brown, Oscar Grant, John Crawford, and Eric Garner. The Festival welcomes soloists Maeve Höglund and baritone Hugh Russell.

Brahms Requiem

Millennium Park

It’s hard to keep eyes and ears off this accomplished and charismatic artist. “I want people to feel like they’re listening to someone who has something thoughtful and meaningful to say,” says Lawrence Brownlee, who returns to SF Performances after his 2018 debut. Brownlee is deeply thoughtful about his connection to audiences, through selection of repertory and musical storytelling.

Lawrence Brownlee Tenor and Kevin Miller Piano

War Memorial and Performing Arts Center

This musical celebration will pair a brand new commission by Joel Thompson (Seven Last Words of the Unarmed, performed by the TSO in March 2019) commemorating the historic Tallahassee Bus Boycott with a Hymn Sing-along led by the FAMU Concert Choir.

Powerful Voices @ Lee Hall

Florida A&M University

Maslanka has written of his 4th Symphony: “The central driving force is the spontaneous rise of the impulse to shout for the joy of life.” This musical celebration will be paired with a brand new commission by Joel Thompson (Seven Last Words of the Unarmed, performed by the TSO in March 2019) that commemorates the historic Tallahassee Bus Boycott. We look forward to, once again, partnering with the FAMU Concert Choir!

Powerful Voices @ Ruby Diamond

Florida State University

 + Hugh Wolff: Esmail, Thompson, Shostakovich

Our Festival this year carries the title “Journeys of Faith”. Through a series of panel discussions pairing Jewish and Black pastors and clergy, our Festival sponsors and partners will seek to connect those Louisvillian communities through discussions of faith and life experience. Their goal is to enable a better understanding of one another and achieve connection through a renewed foundation of relationship. Musically the LO will explore the music of Jewish composer Leonard Bernstein and an important work by Joel Thompson based on the words of African-American writer James Baldwin. American music will welcome two brand new compositions to its ranks from our Creators Corps members, TJ Cole and Tyler Taylor.

Classics: Festival of American Music 2 - Journeys of Faith

The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts

Erin Freeman, guest conductor  |  Meredith Riley, violin / Britton Riley, cello

The George Washington Masonic National Memorial

Mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke returns to Davies Symphony Hall for a program made up entirely of world premieres written by composers during the pandemic and dedicated specifically to Cooke. Together with pianist Kirill Kuzmin, Cooke shines a light on the hopes, fears, and observations of living through an unprecedented time, featuring the brightest compositional talents in music today.

Sasha Cooke: How do I find you

Davies Symphony Hall

Mendelssohn, Tan Dun & Joel Thompson

Lincoln Center

Sensational teen Himari illuminates Bruch’s First Violin Concerto in her CSO subscription debut. Blacknificent 7 composer Joel Thompson’s To See the Sky, “a shifting palette of grooves, colors and moods” (Bachtrack), and Mozart’s electrifying Jupiter Symphony frame the program.

Joel Thompson

Composer

Events

Upcoming events

12 - 15 Feb, 2026

Jaap van Zweden, Himari & Mozart Jupiter · Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Feb 13, 2026

CSO at Wheaton: Jaap van Zweden, Himari & Mozart Jupiter · Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Past events

Mar 23, 2025

Great Artists Series '25: Lawrence Brownlee, tenor · Washington University in St. Louis Department of Music

Mar 16, 2025

African Queens – Karen Slack · Nashville Symphony

About

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