“The American Sound” considers how national identity resonates through music while honoring Colorado’s milestone year. The program opens with a special co-commission by Coloradan composer Leigha Amick: a bold fanfare celebrating Colorado, performed on the 150th anniversary of the state’s admission to the Union. Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings offers lyrical elegance and glowing warmth, while Copland’s Symphony No. 3 crowns the evening with expansive grandeur, weaving the iconic Fanfare for the Common Man into a sweeping symphonic statement that feels unmistakably American in scale, optimism, and sound. 

The American Sound: Colorado at 150

Riverwalk Center

This summer, enjoy the magic of the Curtis Recital Series from home with our summer broadcast series. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to enjoy never-before-broadcast performances every Wednesday at 6 p.m.

EPSG:4326

Broadcast: Curtis Composers Chamber Recital

Curtis Institute of Music

Experience the future of classical music as the New Jersey Symphony showcases the works of four emerging composers at the Edward T. Cone Composition Institute Concert. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, this event is hosted by Institute Director Steven Mackey and conducted by Christopher Rountree. The concert features compositions by Leigha Amick, Santiago Beis, Paul Cosme, and Jessie Leov, each bringing a unique voice and perspective to the symphonic landscape.

Leigha Amick's "Cascade" is an orchestral response to Carl Stone's electronic piece "Mae Yao," transforming from disjunct, percussive material to smooth, lyrical passages through a passacaglia structure. Santiago Beis's "Spletna" explores the entanglement of present moments and fading memories, inspired by the Czech term coined by composer Leoš Janáček. Paul Cosme's "A Stranger in a Festival of Spirits" draws from various folk music and festival traditions of Pacific Asia, reflecting his experiences and connections with these cultures. Jessie Leov's "Speculations on a Rainbow" responds to Judy Millar's artwork "The Rainbow Loop," weaving through a shifting canvas of stability and turbulence, stillness and motion.

This concert not only highlights the innovative compositions of these talented artists but also offers a glimpse into the evolving world of contemporary classical music. The event concludes with a post-concert reception, providing an opportunity to meet the composers and enjoy a special Cone-inspired ice cream flavor crafted for the occasion.

New Scores: The Cone Composition Institute Concert

Princeton University

Join our five composition students for an evening of world premieres. Each composer will share a brand-new work to be performed by the Curtis Symphony Orchestra. The program opens with Maya Miro Johnson’s Bruises, featuring pianist Katelyn Bouska, a poetic work that explores invisible wounds, time, and trauma. Adrian Wong’s Eulogy for a Fallen Tree, a concerto for two bassoons and contrabassoon, traces the life of one of these majestic, human-like beings from a humble seed to its collapse in a thunderous roar.

Summer Broadcast Series: Orchestral World Premieres

Curtis Institute of Music students perform over 100 free recitals during the semester, held on most Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings. Admission requires advance registration and is complimentary.

Leigha Amick

Events

Past events

Aug 1, 2026

The American Sound: Colorado at 150 · National Repertory Orchestra

Sep 4, 2024

Broadcast: Curtis Composers Chamber Recital · Curtis Institute of Music

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