Selections from Margaret Bond’s fervent Montgomery Variations plus Samuel Barber’s lyrical Violin Concerto, featuring virtuoso soloist Nathan Meltzer, make up the first half of our final concert, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Aaron Copland’s magnificent Third Symphony, written in 1946 on commission from Serge Koussevitsky, boasts a heroic finale based on Copland’s earlier Fanfare for the Common Man. The piece was immediately hailed as “the greatest American symphony – it goes from the heart to the heart.”

EPSG:4326

Radiant Reflections: "American Reflections"

North Central College

After studying piano and composition with Florence Price in Chicago, Margaret Bonds composed her variations in the wake of the 1963 firebombing of Birmingham, Alabama’s 16th Street Baptist Church. She describes them as “a group of freestyle variations based on the Negro Spiritual theme; I want Jesus to Walk with Me. The treatment suggests the manner in which Bach constructed his partitas – a bold statement of the theme, followed by variations of the theme.” A profound lyricist and yearning optimist, Austrian composer Joseph Marx considered himself a musical poet of happiness.  HSO Music Director Johannes Müller Stosch describes his 1919 Romantic Piano Concerto as “the Austrian counterpart of Rachmaninoff’s second piano concerto, with lush romantic melodies, harmonies, and plenty of technical fireworks for the soloist.”  The piece was resurrected and made popular by famed pianist Jorge Bolet, is a rarely performed gem melding orchestra with piano in a duet of energy and radiant lyricism.

Classics IV: Romantic Connections

West Ottawa High School Performing Arts Center

Concert Orchestra – Thomas Wilkins, conductor

Musical Arts Center

Two American musical icons meet on the sixth Masterworks program of the season. Copland’s Shaker-influenced Appalachian Spring and Gershwin’s jazz-infused An American in Paris bookend the concert. Heitzeg’s Symphony In Sculpture celebrates the Pappajohn Sculpture Park through its musical evocation of Des Moines’ favorite sculptures. Margaret Bonds’ Music from the Montgomery Variations reflects the struggles and triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement.

Hope – Copland & Gershwin

Des Moines Civic Center

A More Perfect Union illuminates the dreams of our country, honors those who fought for our civil rights, and contemplates the uncertainties facing our nation. Vaughan Williams’ powerful antiwar cantata Dona Nobis Pacem anchors a compelling program that spans Margaret Bonds to contemporary voices such as Shawn Kirchner, Mari Esabel Valverde, Gwyneth Walker, and others. Together, these works confront where we've fallen short and celebrate the stories — some resounding, some quietly persistent — of individuals and communities who have challenged injustice and imagined a better future.

Grace Chorale of Brooklyn’s spring program affirms that democracy is not a static achievement, but a living project — one sustained through the ongoing, intentional work of its citizens. Rather than merely observing where we've been or accepting where we are, A More Perfect Union invites us to envision our path forward to pursue peace, abundance, and the enduring promise of the American dream.

This spring, on the verge of the 250th anniversary of American Independence, join Grace Chorale for a stirring program exploring the unfinished symphony of American democracy: its contradictions and courage, its fragility and hope.

A More Perfect Union

St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church

Making Herstory presents a powerful program that features music about women and written by women composers. The evening includes Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman No. 6 by Joan Tower, curated movements from Montgomery Variations by Margaret Bonds, and Battle for the Ballot by Stacy Garrop, alongside a premiere by an MSU student composer—winner of the Jere Hutcheson Composition Competition. Conducted by Katherine Kilburn, joined by conductors Zongheng Zhang and Dan Jaggars.

Concert Orchestra, “Making Herstory”

Michigan State University

Concert Band – Tiffany J. Galus, conductor

Auer Hall

Driven by a “passion for musical discovery” and an “open-hearted spirit of camaraderie,” The Knights bring fresh excitement and insight to every performance. Tonight, conducted by Eric Jacobsen, they traverse a vast soundscape of American music as part of Carnegie Hall’s United in Sound: America at 250 festival. The program features Copland’s Pulitzer Prize–winning, folk-infused masterpiece: the Appalachian Spring Suite, plus the New York premiere of a concerto written by Gabriel Kahane for clarinetist extraordinaire Anthony McGill, part of the ensemble’s multi-year Rhapsody project.

The Knights at Carnegie Hall with Anthony McGill

Carnegie Hall

Join YOSA Philharmonic for America at 250, a powerful program that marks 250 years of independence with music and poetry that reflect the nation’s spirit, struggle, and soul.

YOSA Presents: America at 250

Tobin Center for the Performing Arts

Davone Tines leads a powerful program as part of NWS’s annual I Dream a World festival. Race, social justice and belonging are at the heart of a program that explores America’s Civil Rights Movement and beyond. 

Davóne Tines: Anthem

New World Center

Voices Of America: Come Sunday

Sandler Center for the Performing Arts

Symphony Orchestra

Music Building and Recital Hall

Don’t miss the opportunity to hear the classical stars of tomorrow – today. Rising Stars is a unique and forward-looking collaboration between 23 of Europe’s leading concert halls, all part of ECHO – the European Concert Hall Organisation. Each year, a select group of young artists and ensembles from across Europe are given the opportunity to tour all of the venues and perform for international audiences. Time and again, the artists chosen for Rising Stars go on to enjoy internationally successful careers.

ECHO Rising Stars with Soprano

Stockholm Concert Hall

For the first time, Iceland, with the Harpa in Reykjavik, is participating in the European Concert Hall Organization's annual "Rising Stars" program, which sends young artists on tour through the continent's major concert halls. And with Álfheiður Erla Guðmundsdóttir, a singer from the Nordic island nation was directly nominated. She loves the poetic, mystical traditions of her country and is currently performing brilliantly not only on the major opera stages in Basel and Berlin, but also realizing unusual projects as a photographer and video artist.

Álfheiður Erla Guðmundsdóttir, Soprano

Elbphilharmonie Hamburg

What’s better than hearing Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F live? Hearing it played by 2025 GRAMMY–winner Michelle Cann right here in Fresno. Join us as we celebrate America at 250 with a lineup of all-American music, with a focus on African American composers including Margaret Bonds’s Montgomery Variations and a world premiere by California composer John Wineglass. The concert concludes with Stravinsky's energetic Symphony in Three Movements.

Michelle Cann Plays Gershwin

Paul Shaghoian Memorial Concert Hall

Celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Jr. in a program highlighting some of the most influential African American artists and composers of our time. Margaret Bonds’ Montgomery Variations, her tribute to civil rights leader Rosa Parks, is infused with themes of struggle, resistance and dignity. Bass Morris Robinson narrates an original poem by Rita Dove, former Poet Laureate Consultant to the Library of Congress, against Barber’s solemn Adagio for Strings, and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Wynton Marsalis takes the 12-bar blues and explodes it into a lyrical, kaleidoscopic history of American music.

American Voices

Cincinnati Music Hall

Celebrate the spirit of resilience, joy, and unity with American Hope, a concert showcasing seminal voices that have shaped American music. The evening opens with Scott Joplin’s Overture to “Treemonisha”, a vibrant and rarely heard orchestral gem from the King of Ragtime. George Gershwin’s An American in Paris follows, brimming with jazz-infused energy and the thrill of discovery. Florence Price’s Song of Hope offers a poignant and soaring expression of perseverance, while Margaret Bonds’ powerful work “The Ballad of the Brown King” brings the program to a stirring and triumphant close. Join us for a night of music that reflects the hope, strength, and artistry of America’s rich musical tapestry.

American Hope

Greenfield High School

Experience the power of music to transcend time, culture, and history. This November, the Modesto Symphony Orchestra presents a beautifully introspective evening that unites diverse voices through sound—Margaret Bonds’ Montgomery Variations reflects on the Civil Rights movement, while Mozart’s lively Violin Concert No. 5 features the voice of the next generation, rising violinist Amaryn Olmeda. In a remarkable American premiere, Dmitri Klebanov’s Symphony No. 1 “In Memoriam Babi Yar” gives voice to remembrance and resilience.

Mozart & Klebanov

Gallo Center for the Arts

Experience the power of music to transcend time, culture, and history. This November, the Modesto Symphony Orchestra presents a beautifully introspective evening that unites diverse voices through sound—Margaret Bonds’ Montgomery Variations reflects on the Civil Rights movement, while Mozart’s lively Violin Concert No. 5 features the voice of the next generation, rising violinist Amaryn Olmeda. In a remarkable American premiere, Dmitri Klebanov’s Symphony No. 1 “In Memoriam Babi Yar” gives voice to remembrance and resilience. The evening concludes with John Williams’ A Prayer for Peace, a heartfelt call for unity and hope.

Modesto Symphony Orchestra - Mozart & Klebanov

Pianist Michelle Cann brings the legacy of Chicago’s Black Renaissance to life in this compelling recital, celebrating the music and stories of pioneering women composers. Featuring works by Florence Price, Margaret Bonds, Betty Jackson King, Nora Holt, and Irene Britton Smith, the program honors their artistic brilliance and cultural contributions.

Michelle Cann Solo Piano Recital

Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center

Join us for an inspiring evening of music that speaks to the soul and to society. The program features Dave Brubeck’s The Gates of Justice, a bold fusion of jazz, classical, and spiritual traditions calling for racial and social unity, paired with Margaret Bonds’ Credo, a powerful choral affirmation of human dignity and belief in justice. A stirring celebration of hope, resilience, and shared humanity — not to be missed.

Gates of Justice

Saint Francis of Assisi

Aperio, Music of the Americas, kicks off it’s 20th concert season with Southern Revival, a captivating program of chamber and orchestral music on Friday, October 17, 2025 at the Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston (MATCH). Featuring musicians from Aperio’s core ensemble conducted by Marlon Chen, this evening of poignant American music explores the power of nostalgia and collective memory, highlighting an array of composers and historical perspectives.

Anchored by Samuel Barber’s evocative and powerful work for soprano and orchestra Knoxville: Summer of 1915, the program navigates a variety of perspectives on childhood nostalgia and collective tragedy. Showcasing an evocative text drawn from James Agee’s prose masterpiece A Death In The Family, Barber’s music evokes a nostalgic, dreamlike memory of a peaceful summer evening from a child's perspective, casting an idyllic, peaceful scene in the foreboding shadow of personal tragedy. 

In contrast, Shawn Okpebholo's Two Black Churches gives voice to the painful historical and ongoing racial violence against Black communities. While Barber's work is a personal, gentle reflection, Okpebholo's is a powerful lament and a somber meditation on collective trauma.

The program also highlights significant works by Black composers, including Florence Price’s beautiful Andante Moderato from her String Quartet No. 1, Jessie Montgomery’s dynamic Strum for string quartet and introspective cello and piano duet titled Peace, Margaret Bonds' powerful piano work Troubled Water, and William Grant Still's elegant Serenade. The performance concludes with Richard Farina’s folk-inspired Birmingham Sunday.

Southern Revival

Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston

Mehana Ellis performs ‘Troubled Water’ from Bonds’ Spiritual Suite, Wagner’s ‘Liebestod’ from Tristan und Isolde, and Schumann’s ‘Widmung’ from Myrthen Vanness Yu performs Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 30 and Chopin’s Etude No.8


Noon Concert: Piano Recital

UC Berkeley Department of Music

Celebrate Independence Day and kick off SummerFest with an evening of patriotic favorites, uplifting American classics. With highlights from Wicked and Star Wars, to the iconic Stars and Stripes Forever and Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, this concert is bursting with joy, pride, and community spirit.

Patriotic Pops

The Music Center at Strathmore

Gather with family and friends at Oregon Ridge for an evening of patriotic favorites, uplifting American classics, and a dazzling fireworks finale.

Star-Spangled Spectacular at Oregon Ridge

Oregon Ridge Park

Gather with family and friends at the BSO's two homes for an evening of patriotic favorites and uplifting American classics to kick off SummerFest.

Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall

All music is created in a specific time and place. Aaron Copland's emergence from a dance hall in 1930s Mexico were the first steps toward his place as an iconic composer of American music. Margaret Bonds’ symphonic variations on the spiritual, "I Want Jesus to Walk with Me,” center on events in which black Alabamians pushed back against the Jim Crow policies of the American South. And a new work by Liza Sobel Crane is premiered right here in the Twin Cities.

Reverberations

St. Catherine University

Wolf Trap Opera alumnus John Holiday (’14) has established himself as “one of the finest countertenors of his generation” (Los Angeles Times). Holiday enjoys an international career singing with opera companies such as the Metropolitan Opera, Bayerische Staatsoper (Munich), and Lyric Opera of Chicago, among others. Now, he returns to The Barns to sing works by Price, Bonds, Robert L. Morris, Gershwin, and more.

John Holiday, countertenor

The Barns At Wolf Trap

The Women of Chicago's Black Renaissance

Severance Music Center

CYSO’s Symphony Orchestra and Philharmonic Orchestra present their spring concert at Orchestra Hall

Symphony Orchestra Spring Concert at Orchestra Hall featuring Philharmonic Orchestra

Symphony Center

CYSO’s Symphony Orchestra presents a free community concert at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts.

Symphony Orchestra Spring Community Concert

Northshore Performing Arts Center

This is a junior duet recital that will include various works in English, German, French and Italian from composers such as Margaret Bonds, Francesco Paolo Tosti, Franz Schubert and many more!

Student Degree Recital: Nicholas Mathew and Mark Turner B.M. voice junior recital

The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center

This program, guest conducted by Naima Burrs, brings you three very different but very important masterpieces of classical music written in the last century.

Shostakovich Symphony No. 5

Strathmore

HEROES & HOPE:  Arrangements from the Piano Suites by Nathaniel Dett, Montgomery Variations by Margaret Bonds, and Symphony No. 4 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

Heroes & Hope

Ridgefield Playhouse

This evocative program shines a light on the harrowing journeys made by countless souls along the Underground Railroad, as told through Paul Moravec’s Sanctuary Road. Drawing from the poignant accounts recorded by abolitionist William Still, this oratorio stands as a profound homage to the indomitable spirit and bravery of those who sought freedom from slavery. Complementing this narrative, Margaret Bonds’ Montgomery Variations pays homage to Martin Luther King Jr. and the pivotal civil rights movement, weaving a musical tapestry that speaks to the heart of the struggle for justice and equality.

Sanctuary Road

Kleinhans Music Hall

Orchestra Nova Northwest launches a new collaboration with the brilliant and dynamic Resonance Ensemble, a professional vocal ensemble with a mission that mirrors that of the Orchestra Nova Northwest, who is committed to creating and presenting powerful programs promoting meaningful social change. This program will present an evocative work by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw that uses excerpts of American poet Emma Lazarus’ poem The New Colossus and also addresses refugee crises, and a rarely performed work of American composer Margaret Bonds that sets W.E.B. Du Bois’ stirring Credo from his 1920 autobiography, Darkwater: Voices from within the Veil. The combined choruses from Lewis and Clark and Reed Colleges will join the Resonance Ensemble and the ONN for the mighty and majestic Dona nobis pacem of English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, a work composed in 1936 and written as a plea for peace between the two world wars.

Resonance Nova

Patricia Reser Center for the Arts

Reynolds High School

Experience the evocative power of "Transmigration," a captivating performance by the La Jolla Symphony & Chorus under the masterful direction of conductor Arian Khaefi. This concert promises to be a profound musical journey, exploring themes of transformation and renewal through a carefully curated selection of compositions. The La Jolla Symphony & Chorus, known for their innovative programming and exceptional artistry, will bring these themes to life with their signature blend of passion and precision. The ensemble's commitment to musical excellence and their ability to convey deep emotional narratives through sound will ensure an unforgettable experience. Join us as we delve into the rich tapestry of human experience, expressed through the universal language of music.

Transmigration

University of California San Diego

A Black History Month concert featuring works by Grammy-nominated composer Shawn Okpebholo with poetry by Duke University’s Associate Professor of English Tsitsi Jaji. Shepherd School of Music Artist Teacher of Opera Studies Lyndsi Maus performs alongside Shepherd opera students.

Black Vocal Works: a Celebration of Poetry in Song

Alice Pratt Brown Hall

Ravel's elegant tribute to France's musical and cultural heritage blends Baroque dance forms with Impressionistic colors and textures.

Portraits

Alaska Center for the Performing Arts

Experience the electrifying fusion of classical, jazz, blues, and opera with Symphonic Soul, a powerful tribute to African American artists whose contributions have shaped the very heart of American music.

Symphonic Soul: A Celebration of African American Artistry

Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

Praised as "a pianist of sterling artistry" by Gramophone, Michelle Cann stands as one of today's most sought-after pianists. Renowned for her captivating interpretations of Florence Price's piano compositions, Cann's illustrious career includes acclaimed solo recitals, dynamic chamber music collaborations with Catalyst, Dover, and Juilliard string quartets, a GRAMMY award, and her 2023 debut solo album Revival, showcasing works by Price and Margaret Bonds. Her program breathes life into the vivid musical contributions of The Women of Chicago’s Black Renaissance, featuring piano works by Price, Bonds, Hazel Scott, Betty Jackson King, and Nora Holt.

Michelle Cann, piano

Logan Center

Experience the unparalleled artistry of Yuja Wang as she makes a triumphant return to the stage with The Philadelphia Orchestra, under the baton of the esteemed conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin. This not-to-be-missed series of performances is scheduled for January 2025, with shows on Thursday the 16th at 7:30 PM, Friday the 17th at 8:00 PM, and Saturday the 18th at 8:00 PM, all taking place in the prestigious Verizon Hall.

The program promises an evening of emotional depth and breathtaking virtuosity, opening with Margaret Bonds's "The Montgomery Variations," a poignant tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., inspired by Bonds's visit to Montgomery, Alabama. This piece, rooted in the spiritual "I Want Jesus to Walk with Me," reflects Bonds's commitment to social and racial justice.

The highlight of the evening will be Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1, featuring Yuja Wang's extraordinary technique and interpretive depth. Wang's previous sold-out performances have been met with critical acclaim, her artistry described with superlatives such as "breathtaking," "charismatic," and "flawless."

Completing the program is William Grant Still's Symphony No. 2 "Song of a New Race," a lyrical masterpiece that showcases the legendary strings of The Philadelphia Orchestra. Premiered by the orchestra in 1937, this work continues to resonate as a testament to Still's vision and the orchestra's rich history.

These performances are available as part of the 2024-25 Subscription Package, offering magnificent programming and exclusive subscriber benefits. Don't miss this opportunity to witness the synergy of Yuja Wang's piano brilliance with the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra in an unforgettable musical journey.

Yuja Wang Returns

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

The CSO proudly presents “America the Beautiful,” an evening dedicated to celebrating the rich tapestry of American life and music. Featuring an eclectic selection of orchestral favorites, a centerpiece of the evening will be Aaron Copland’s renowned composition, Lincoln Portrait.

Dvorak’s “New World” Symphony  as part of CSO’s America the Beautiful Concert

The Center for the Performing Arts

Beethoven’s “Ninth” is always a momentous event, so we’re thrilled to present two performances of this beloved piece. Known as “Ode to Joy” because of the familiar theme in the symphony’s fourth movement, it’s the first symphony to incorporate vocal soloists and chorus into what was previously a purely instrumental genre. We’re delighted to welcome the acclaimed Worcester Chorus of Music Worcester to our stage along with four outstanding soloists to bring this monumental yet whimsical composition to life. But first, our program opens with an important work by Margaret Bonds, noted as one of the first Black composers and performers to gain recognition in the United States. Written in 1964 after the composer’s visit to Montgomery, Alabama, the Montgomery Variations fervently examines seminal events from the civil-rights movement.

Vista Philharmonic Orchestra – Ode to Joy

Groton Hill Music Center

All University of Texas at Austin students are allowed one free ticket as long as they are available. Student tickets must be picked up at the Box Office with valid student I.D. Seating is unassigned.

Wind Ensemble

The University of Texas at Austin

Iconoclastic pianist and cultural visionary Lara Downes returns to Newport after a sold-out performance in 2021 to present THIS LAND, a probing, nuanced reflection on the kaleidoscopic diversity of stories and journeys that have converged and collided throughout American history, from an artist renowned for her musical explorations off the beaten path. Downes celebrates the beauty of the American experiment while offering an unflinching acknowledgment of its flaws and failings, ultimately embracing the power of hope and humanity as a pathway to common ground and a brighter future.

Closing Night with Pianist Lara Downes

The Breakers Newport

Celebrate the great outdoors and VSO’s 90th birthday with the 2024 Summer Festival Tour: Symphony of Stars! Join the orchestra for spectacular evenings of music by Sufjan Stevens, Margaret Bonds, Vermont’s own Erik Nielsen, John Philip Sousa marches, John Williams’ E.T. score, and more, plus spectacular solos from VSO’s musicians! Music Director Andrew Crust leads the ensemble featuring principal cello John Dunlop, principal clarinet Kelli O’Connor, and principal percussion D. Thomas Toner. Bring your picnic and relax under balmy summer skies with your Vermont Symphony Orchestra!

Vso Summer Tour: Grafton

Burke Mountain Hotel

Grafton Trails & Outdoor Center

Shelburne Museum

Music and the struggle for freedom go hand in hand. Here, Carlos Kalmar pairs overtures written for Beethoven's French Revolution-era drama Fidelio with two works championing freedom and social justice in our own country: Jessie Montgomery's Five Freedom Songs, based on the historical anthology Slave Songs of the United States, and Chicago-composer Margaret Bonds's Montgomery Variations, dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Songs of Freedom

Millennium Park

Join us for an unforgettable evening of music and emotion with the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra's performance of Shostakovich Symphony No. 5. This powerful event will take place on Sunday, May 19, 2024, from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM at the historic Hawaii Theatre, located at 1130 Bethel Street, Honolulu, HI, 96813.

Experience a lionhearted program that speaks to resilience, revolution, and representation, under the baton of conductor Dane Lam. The evening will feature pianist Michelle Cann, bringing to life the evocative sounds of Florence Price's Piano Concerto, Margaret Bond's Montgomery Variations—a gripping evocation of the Civil Rights movement—and the defiant Symphony No. 5 by Dmitri Shostakovich, a testament to the power of art to challenge and liberate.

Ticket holders are invited to a special pre-concert talk at 3:00 PM in the auditorium, offering deeper insight into the evening's program.

The concert will include:
- Margaret Bonds: The Montgomery Variations
- Florence Price: Piano Concerto
- Intermission
- Dmitri Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5

For the safety of our audience, masks are encouraged, and contact points will be minimized. Tickets are available online or through the HSO Box Office. For more information or to purchase tickets, please call the HSO Box Office at 808-380-7720, T-F between 10 am - 2 pm.

Don't miss this masterful blend of music that promises to be both a tribute to the enduring spirit of humanity and a celebration of the transformative power of art.

Hawaii Theatre

Join us for the grand YSO Finale Concert, a showcase of the Youth Symphony Orchestra's (YSO) remarkable talent and hard work throughout the season. This event is scheduled for May 12 at 3:00 pm CDT, taking place at the prestigious Bartlett Performing Arts Center, located at 3600 Avenue of the Cities, Moline, IL 61265, United States.

Under the baton of conductor Benjamin Firer, the YSO, comprising nearly 90 talented young musicians, will present an ambitious program. The concert will feature Charles T. Griffes' "Poem for Flute and Orchestra," with a special performance by Concerto Competition Grand Prize Winner Runner Up, Morgan Smith. The program will also include "Hold fast to dreams" by Dana Wilson, followed by an intermission and senior announcements. The second half of the concert will be dedicated to "The Montgomery Variations" by Margaret Bonds, a powerful suite in seven movements that promises to be an emotional and inspiring highlight of the evening.

This event is not just a concert; it's a celebration of youth, music, and community. It's an opportunity to witness the premier youth orchestra in the region perform advanced orchestral repertoire, including their collaboration in the Side-by-Side Concert with the Quad City Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Mark Russell Smith.

Don't miss this opportunity to support and enjoy the incredible talent of our young musicians. Purchase your tickets now and be part of a memorable evening filled with inspiring music and performances. For more information and to secure your seats, please visit our website or contact the box office at 563-322-7276.

YSO Finale Concert

Moline High School

Join us for an evening of inspiration and musical excellence as the Pioneer Valley Symphony Orchestra & Chorus presents "Visions of Hope" at the Greenfield High School Auditorium. This special concert, marking the close of our 85th season, will take place on Saturday, May 11, 2024, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

"Visions of Hope" features an uplifting program celebrating a hopeful and just future through the works of three renowned 20th-century African American composers. The evening will showcase William Grant Still's Symphony No. 2 "Song of a New Race," Margaret Bonds' "Credo" with the PVS Chorus, and selections from Mary D. Watkins' "Dark River: The Fannie Lou Hamer Story," also performed by the PVS Chorus. These pieces collectively explore themes of justice, racial equality, and the African American experience, blending elements of classical Western orchestration with blues, jazz, and gospel.

The concert will feature the talents of soprano Brianna J. Robinson, baritone Nicholas Lagesse, and will be conducted by Tianhui Ng and Dr. Allegra Martin. The evening will also include a pre-concert talk at 6:00 PM by PVS' resident musicologist, Dr. David Schneider, offering deeper insights into the program's historical and cultural context.

In our commitment to making the joy of music accessible to all, tickets for "Visions of Hope" are offered on a sliding scale from $15 to $35, with a suggested price of $25. Special pricing is available for youth, college students, and holders of WIC and EBT cards through the Mass Cultural Council's Card for Culture program.

Don't miss this powerful celebration of hope, justice, and the transformative power of music. Reserve your seats today and be part of a memorable night that promises not only to entertain but to inspire.

Visions of Hope

Join us for an enchanting evening of music at the Bienen School of Music with a piano recital by Chan Lee, a talented Master of Music student under the guidance of Christopher Guzman and Yasuko Oura. This captivating performance will take place on Sunday, May 5, 2024, at 8:30pm CDT in the Regenstein Master Class Room.

The evening's program promises a rich and diverse selection of pieces, featuring:
- Selected songs by Nadia Boulanger
- "Songs of the Seasons" by Margaret Bonds
- Ludwig van Beethoven's Sonata No. 6 in A Major, Op. 30, No. 1
- Johannes Brahms' Scherzo in C Minor from the F-A-E Sonata

Special guest performers Uma Singh, soprano, and Ryan Huo, violin, will join Chan Lee, adding an extra layer of depth and beauty to the recital.

This event is free and open to the public, with no tickets required. For those unable to attend in person, a live stream will be available, ensuring you don't miss a moment of this musical journey.

The Regenstein Master Class Room, located in the Regenstein Hall of Music adjacent to the Ryan Center for the Musical Arts at 60 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston, IL 60208, offers a cozy and intimate setting for this performance. With seating for 200, it's the perfect venue to experience the power and emotion of live music.

Don't miss this opportunity to support emerging talent and enjoy an evening of exquisite music.

Chan Lee, piano

Northwestern Bienen School of Music

Spring 2024 Concert

Calvary Presbyterian Church

Celebrating professional classical musicians of African descent, Symphony Center Presents features the New York-based Gateways Festival Orchestra in its Chicago debut.

Comprised of the finest classical musicians in the country, the all-Black Gateways Festival Orchestra concludes its week-long Chicago residency with a Symphony Center concert featuring Take 6, the award-winning a cappella group Quincy Jones called the “baddest vocal cats on the planet.” The program highlights works by African-American composers including Chicago-native Margaret Bonds, whose Montgomery Variations was inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.

Concert: Gateways Festival Orchestra

Comprised of the finest classical musicians in the country, the all-Black Gateways Festival Orchestra concludes its week-long Chicago residency with a Symphony Center concert featuring Take 6, the award-winning a cappella group Quincy Jones called the “baddest vocal cats on the planet.” The program highlights works by African-American composers including Chicago-native Margaret Bonds, whose Montgomery Variations was inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.

Gateways Festival Orchestra featuring Take 6

NHSO Principal Pops Conductor Chelsea Tipton leads this high-energy program celebrating the orchestral music by Black composers and performers at the heart of the Harlem Renaissance.

Harlem Renaissance: Orchestral Voices

Shelton Intermediate School

Southern Connecticut State University

If Bach says that we should “Sing to the Lord a new song” that’s exactly what the Chorale will do—sing a world premiere work by Zanaida Robles. Similarly, when Bach suggests "Have no fear, I am with you,” we are asked to have faith, to believe in something that we feel in our hearts, just as Margaret Bonds uses W.E.B. DuBois’ poem Credo to share her beliefs. Spiritual Suite is Bonds’ magnum opus for piano with each movement based on a traditional Negro spiritual connecting hints of blues, jazz, and gospel with the classical styles of Romanticism and Impressionism. Collectively, the program is an evening filled with music with great strength of purpose in every phrase and note

I Believe: The Music of Bach, Bonds & Robles

Walt Disney Concert Hall

Student Recital: Solomon Onyukwu

Carnegie Mellon University

Ivan Yang, Piano – Masters Recital

University of Arizona

Sibelius’ fifth symphony, led by Jeri Lynne Johnson in her return to New Orleans (New Orleans Opera’s Josephine), will leave the audience enchanted.

Sibelius Symphony No.5

Orpheum Theater

Insiders: Jonathon Turner, Voice

Cleveland Institute of Music

“Melodic precision, harmonic erudition, and elegant restraint” (New York Times) are hallmarks of Aaron Diehl’s playing. Praised for his “freedom and playfulness” (Philadelphia Inquirer), this celebrated musical polymath makes his PCMS debut with Hidden Visionaries, a new recital program spotlighting works by Black American composers of sacred and secular music.

Aaron Diehl, piano

**Event Description: ROCO Connections: Blossoms**

Join us for a captivating evening as ROCO’s Connections Series continues on January 27, 2024, in collaboration with The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Rienzi house museum. The concert will take place at 5:00 PM in the glorious ballroom of the Rienzi, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, located on Kirby Drive.

This special event, now at capacity, will feature a stunning program including Charles Loeffler's "Rhapsodies" and the world premiere of Nicky Sohn's "Colors of Life’s Garden," inspired by the plants and flowers in the 4.4-acre Rienzi Garden. The evening will also include performances of Margaret Bonds' "Troubled Water," Rebecca Clarke's "Morpheus," and Alyssa Morris' "Four Personalities: Yellow."

The concert will be performed by distinguished artists:
- Alecia Lawyer, oboe
- Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt, viola
- Audrey Andrist, piano

Although tickets are no longer available for in-person attendance, you can still join us online for a free livestream of the event on ROCO.org, Facebook, YouTube, and A440.live. For those interested in joining the waiting list, please contact us at email protected or call 713-665-2700.

This event is proudly sponsored by the Texas Commission on The Arts. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to experience a blend of classical and contemporary music in a beautiful setting.

**Program:**
- Nicky Sohn: Colors of Life’s Garden (World Premiere Commission)
- Margaret Bonds: Troubled Water
- Rebecca Clarke: Morpheus
- Alyssa Morris: Four Personalities: Yellow
- Charles Loeffler: Two Rhapsodies, for Oboe, Viola, and Piano

**Location:**
Rienzi, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Rienzi Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Kirby Drive, Houston, TX, USA

**Livestream:**
Available for free on ROCO.org, Facebook, YouTube, and A440.live

For more information, visit our website or contact us directly. We look forward to sharing this musical celebration with you!

ROCO Connections: Blossoms

Museum of Fine Arts Houston

With an ”electrifying sense of fearlessness” (San Francisco Chronicle), Raehann Bryce-Davis has made the opera and concert world sit up and take notice of her abundant energy and magnetic style. A gifted singing actress, she has a distinctive point of view in recital programs that bring together voices and stories old and new that resonate with love and courage, resilience and humanity.

Raehann Bryce-Davis | Mezzo-Soprano

War Memorial and Performing Arts Center

The first African American woman to have her works performed by major orchestras, Florence Price, born in 1887, broke barriers at a time when classical music was dominated by white men. Trained at the New England Conservatory in Boston before moving to the midwest, she found success during the Chicago Black Renaissance, writing music that blended spirituals and folk tunes with classical forms. Though her work faded into relative obscurity after her death in 1953, the discovery of a significant cache of her compositions in 2009 brought about a revival of her work. This rekindling of interest has been driven by musicians like Cann, who, in 2016, performed the New York City premiere of Price’s Piano Concerto in One Movement, reigniting her legacy and underscoring her enduring impact on classical music.

Visionary Sounds

The DiMenna Center for Classical Music

“With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation to a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.” So said Dr. King in a speech given in 1963 in Kalamazoo’s Miller Auditorium. The arts community joins together to honor his life and legacy. Featuring a side-by-side performance with the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra, this concert embodies music as a unifying force in our community.

Symphony of Brotherhood: Celebrating the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Miller Auditorium

Join the Chicago Sinfonietta in their annual MLK Tribute Concert, PULSE, as they pay homage to the enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a captivating lineup of works that celebrate the power of perseverance, triumph, and hope. 
Experience the dynamic Overture from Treemonisha, Scott Joplin's classic opera, reimagined for the orchestra by Gunther Schuller. Then, prepare to be moved by the stunning performance of Xavier Dubois Foley's "Victory" Concerto, featuring the masterful double bassist Xavier Foley, whose virtuosic playing and musicality are sure to leave you breathless. 

Pulse

Roosevelt University

“Our goal in this show was to go through an array of music to introduce young people and also to celebrate the rich musical history that composers of African descent have contributed to. This particular concert will celebrate a broad range of truly classical music but music that they may not have heard or heard about. It’s very accessible. It is designed as a concert to give honor and reflection to the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr. in a way that is both reverent and entertaining.” – Dr. Henry Panion III, guest conductor

Celebrate Mlk

Dominion Energy Center

This concert features some of the most beautiful American orchestral compositions created by African Americans. The first part of the program incorporates two well-known African American female composers, Florence Price (1887 – 1953) and Margaret Bonds (1913 – 1972), honoring the American musical art form created by the enslaved, the spiritual. Price’s Colonial Dance (unknown) reflects dance, which was an integral part of African American life and American life more generally around the time she composed it. And Price’s Concert Overture No. 1 (unknown) is based on the spiritual Sinner, Please Don’t Let This Harvest Pass. Bond’s Montgomery Variations (1964) is a symphonic theme and variations in 7 movements based on the spiritual I Want Jesus To Walk With Me. The second half of the program highlights the indigenous American musical genre, jazz featuring music by James P. Johnson (1894 – 1955), William Grant Still (1895 – 1978), David Baker (1931 – 2016), Duke Ellington (1899 – 1974) and the guest conductor, Damien Sneed (1979 – present). 

Classics & Jazz – MLK Jr. Celebration

Symphony Hall, Springfield

PCE’s seasonal favorite returns with a stirring program for chorale and orchestra that celebrates the universal expression of the human spirit through music. Amazing Grace, perhaps the most universal of folk hymns, has inspired people all around the world for centuries. This new year, we feature works by George Walker, Gustav Mahler, Margaret Bonds, Luciano Berio, and the DC premiere of Jeffrey Mumford’s extraordinary cello concerto with soloist Annie Jacobs-Perkins, winner of the 2023 Pierre Fournier Award. ‍

As a special tribute, PCE will present Mr. Mumford with PCE’s American Roots Artist Award for his outstanding contributions to the American music. Bring the family, and join us in singing Amazing Grace with the whole ensemble at the end of the evening.

Amazing Grace: in Paradisum

Kennedy Center

"I've put my whole soul into this," Tchaikovsky said of his last symphony. Rachmaninoff put his genius, a famous theme, and allusions to a deal with the devil into his Rhapsody. Pianist Sergei Babayan plays it "full speed ahead to the very edge of a cliff" (BBC Music Magazine). From the epicenter of the Civil Rights Movement, Margaret Bonds honors the inspiring work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Margaret Bonds

Events

Upcoming events

Jun 13, 2026

Protest Notes · Sheffield Philharmonic Orchestra

Jun 14, 2026

Songs of Hope · Orchestre Métropolitain

Jun 28, 2026

The Knights & Conrad Tao · Caramoor

Jun 28, 2026

The Knights at Caramoor with Conrad Tao · The Knights

Jul 3, 2026

Carnegie Hall Citywide Presents The Knights · The Knights

Past events

May 16, 2026

Radiant Reflections: "American Reflections" · DuPage Symphony Orchestra

Apr 25, 2026

Classics IV: Romantic Connections · Holland Symphony Orchestra

About

Margaret Bonds hasn't added a bio