Conductor

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.

EPSG:4326

Southern Revival

Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston

250Lex: Concert for Lexington

University of Kentucky

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).

Great Artists Series '25: Lawrence Brownlee, tenor

560 Music Center

Two Black Churches + Carmina Burana

Paramount Theatre

Join the Lexington Philharmonic for an unforgettable season finale on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at 7:30 PM at the Singletary Center for the Arts, 405 Rose St, Lexington, KY. This powerful concert, under the baton of Music Director Mélisse Brunet, will feature the WORLD Premiere of "Two Black Churches" by Composer-in-Residence Shawn E. Okpebholo, a poignant work reflecting on the tragic racist attacks on the 16th Street Baptist Church and the Mother Emanuel AME Church. The evening will also include Mary D. Watkins' "Soul of Remembrance" and Camille Saint-Saëns' triumphant "Symphony No. 3," known as the Organ Symphony, showcasing the resonant power of the Singletary Center’s pipe organ.

Special guest artist, acclaimed baritone Will Liverman, will join the orchestra, bringing to life the emotional depth and historical significance of these works. The concert promises to be a moving tribute and a celebration of resilience and hope.

Tickets are available for adults from $28 to $78, with a special rate of $11 for youth 17 & under and students with valid ID, plus a $5 processing fee per adult-priced ticket. LexPhil Subscribers enjoy zero fees. The concert will last approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes, including a 20-minute intermission.

Don't miss the FREE pre-concert talk, "Inside the Score," at 6:30 PM in the Presidents Room, featuring insights from Mélisse Brunet, Shawn E. Okpebholo, and Will Liverman for an exclusive look into the music and stories behind the night's program. Seating is limited, so arrive early to secure your spot.

This event is presented with special thanks to the Saykaly Garbulinska Composer-in-Residence Fund and VisitLEX for their support. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Lexington Philharmonic's website.

Two Black Churches: Okpebholo World Premiere

Join us for an unforgettable afternoon of vocal brilliance as Grammy Award-winning baritone Will Liverman makes his Caramoor debut, accompanied by the acclaimed pianist Myra Huang. This exceptional recital is set to take place in the intimate setting of the Music Room at Caramoor on Sunday, March 24, 2024, at 3:00pm in Katonah, NY.

Will Liverman, described by The Washington Post as "a voice for this historic moment," has captivated audiences worldwide with his versatile performances. Following his breakout role at the Met’s 2021-22 season opener and his Grammy-winning performance in Terence Blanchard’s "Fire Shut Up in My Bones," Liverman continues to explore significant works, including his recent portrayal in Anthony Davis’ "X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X."

The program promises an afternoon of rich musical exploration, featuring Michael Ippolito's "The Long Year," a song cycle dedicated to Liverman and premiered by him at the Kennedy Center in 2022. The recital will also include William Grant Still's "Grief," selections from Ralph Vaughan Williams' "Songs of Travel," and a captivating set of Four Spirituals, among other works by Gabriel Fauré, Franz Schubert, Carl Loewe, and Sergei Rachmaninoff.

This performance is not just a showcase of Liverman's exceptional talent but also a journey through a carefully curated selection of pieces that highlight the emotional and expressive depth of the voice-piano duo. Myra Huang, celebrated for her artistry and collaboration, will join Liverman in bringing these compositions to life, offering audiences a rare opportunity to experience the power of song in the hands of masters.

Don't miss this opportunity to witness a performance that promises to be both moving and memorable. Secure your tickets now and be part of a special day at Caramoor, where music and history come together in perfect harmony.

Conductor

Shawn E. Okpebholo

Events

Past events

Oct 17, 2025

Southern Revival · Aperio, Music of the Americas

Sep 7, 2025

250Lex: Concert for Lexington · Lexington Philharmonic

About

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