Join the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association (ORCMA) for a profound musical journey with "A Musical Exploration of Cultures," a concert that delves into the rich tapestry of American Black Music, Indigenous Heritage, hate crimes, and Latino immigration. This captivating event took place on Sunday, September 10, 2023, at 3:00 PM at the Pollard Auditorium, located at 210 Badger Avenue, Oak Ridge, TN.

Under the baton of Music Director & Conductor Régulo Stabilito, the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra Sinfonietta, comprised of the orchestra’s principal musicians, presented a program inspired by the 2023 Roots of America Lecture Series. The concert featured a selection of works by composers who have significantly contributed to the dialogue on cultural identity and historical experiences through music. The program included:

- "Divertimento for 11 Instruments" by the renowned Venezuelan composer Gonzalo Castellanos-Yumar.
- "Elegy: a cry from the grave" by GRAMMY-nominated African American composer Carlos Simon.
- "Sinfonietta" by Szymon Laks, a Holocaust survivor and the head of the prisoner's orchestra at Birkenau-Auschwitz.
- "Appalachian Spring Suite for 13 Instruments" by iconic American composer Aaron Copland.
- "Incident at Wounded Knee" by Louis Ballard, known as the father of Native American composition.

This event not only offered an opportunity to experience a diverse range of musical expressions but also served as a reflection on significant cultural and historical themes. Attendees were invited to a post-concert dinner in the Lobby, celebrating Maestro Stabilito's opening concert and fostering community among music lovers and supporters of the arts.

For those who missed the live performance, ORCMA provided an opportunity to join and access the concert video, allowing a wider audience to experience this unique musical exploration.

A Musical Exploration of Cultures

Oak Ridge Associated Universities

Concertmaster David Kim steps into the spotlight in Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, a breathtaking, emotionally intense thrill ride. Rafael Payere, whose five-star reviews hail performances “ablaze with color, intensity and strength” (Cleveland Classical), leads this heart-pounding program.

EPSG:4326

Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

This program reflects the profound connection between history, culture, and the human experience through music. Dvořák’s Wind Serenade opens the concert with lyrical beauty, capturing the timeless harmony between nature and the human spirit. Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson’s Sinfonietta No. 1 follows with bold, expressive themes that blend classical traditions with vibrant cultural influences. Ballard’s Incident at Wounded Knee offers a moving reflection on Native American culture, exploring themes of resistance, justice, and cultural resilience. The concert concludes with Haydn’s Symphony No. 64 in A Major, a jubilant and uplifting work that reminds us of the power of music to inspire hope and unity. Together, these pieces honor the voices and stories that shape our world, bringing their lessons forward into the present.

Louis W. Ballard

Events

Upcoming events

5 - 7 Feb, 2026

Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto · Philadelphia Orchestra

14 - 15 Feb, 2026

Voices of the Past: Dvořák, Perkinson, Ballard & Haydn · Maryland Symphony Orchestra

Past events

Sep 10, 2023

A Musical Exploration of Cultures · Oak Ridge Civic Music Association

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