Composer

An all-American spectacular caps off the season as we celebrate our country’s 250th birthday. The best of our nation’s music is represented in this program, from jazz to ragtime to Broadway, crowned by Ferde Grofé’s grand symphonic masterwork, the Grand Canyon Suite, celebrating the amazing natural wonder in our own backyard.

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POPS Concert:  America 250 Celebration

Sedona Performing Arts Center

Experience the vibrant tapestry of American Landscapes and Stories, a concert celebrating the diversity and beauty of American culture. The evening begins with the world premiere of Andy Akiho’s latest work, inspired by the heroic story of Frances Marion, South Carolina’s Revolutionary War general. The program continues with Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate’s homage to the ancient native American story of how the animals risked their lives to bring the first fire to people . The second half features stunning video, providing a breathtaking visual backdrop to this celebration of American artistry. The program culminates with Grofé’s evocative Grand Canyon Suite, with images of one of our nation’s most awe-inspiring natural wonders. Don’t miss this unforgettable journey through sound and image!

Grand Canyon Suite + American Stories

Peace Center

For this all-American program, the MSO features its principal harpist, Melanie Young, in a performance of Ennanga by William Grant Still.

This rarely heard work for harp, strings, and piano is a vivid reflection of the ennanga, an African harp-like instrument. Played on a modern harp, the piece has a calming, restorative quality that gently soothes the soul.

Sonic America

Hylton Performing Arts Center

Join “opening Notes” with Nathan Black, 6:30pm Philanthropy Theatre prior to the concerts for insights on the evening’s program.

Majestic Rhythms

Anson Mills

Celebrate America’s 250th and the 2026 Winter Olympics with this inspiring program featuring Liv Warfield as the narrator for Lincoln Portrait.

Voices of a Nation

Prairie Home Alliance Theater

Join us for the first of five concerts programmed to celebrate America’s 250th birthday with music by American composers. Joan Tower highlights percussion instruments in Tambor, a one-movement work in which the entire orchestra takes on percussive characteristics. Next, George S. Clinton’s The Rose of Sonora is a violin concerto inspired by and simulating an old Western with movements acting as scenes. The piece was originally written for soloist Holly Mulcahy, who portrayed an outlaw in music helping to make the work more relatable for today’s audiences. Clinton’s experience as a film composer helps bring his music to life. Last, but surely not least, the finale of the evening is the familiar Grand Canyon Suite by Ferde Grofe, a tribute to the incredible natural beauty of America.

American Beauty (Celebrating America 250)

Purdue University Fort Wayne

Elevate your morning routine with the new, innovative Coffee Concert Series, where music meets the comforting aroma of freshly brewed Blue Lion coffee. This unique series not only provides a delightful mid-morning musical interlude but also includes complimentary coffee after each performance in your own Fort Wayne Philharmonic Coffee Series mug and donuts from Sugar Creek Donuts. In addition, each post-concert activity provides an exclusive opportunity for patrons to engage in discussions with the musicians themselves, participate in fun musically themed activities and connect with the team who bring the music to life.

Coffee Concert: Grand Canyon Suite

Land that I Love celebrates the beauty of the American western landscapes from the rolling prairies to the glorious Grand Canyon! Myra Monfort Artist in Residence, Grammy Award-winning cellist Zuill Bailey joins CSO for the world premiere of Pasturelands Cello Concerto by CSO’s Composer in Residence, Jeff Lippencott. But first, audiences will enjoy the jazzy vibes of Gould’s American Symphonette No. 2 and the concert closes with Grofé’s iconic Grand Canyon Suite.

Land that I Love

Cheyenne Civic Center

Our journey begins inland, where rivers run through landscapes and legends alike. River Rhythms features music shaped by flowing waters—from the grandeur of the Mississippi to the folk-infused currents of the Vltava. Ferde Grofé’s Mississippi Suite opens the concert with rich American imagery, followed by Anatoly Lyadov’s shimmering tone poem The Enchanted Lake, conducted by assistant conductor Eric Shen.

On the Water: River Rhythms

St. Paul & St. Andrew United Methodist Church

The BPO presents a free, outdoor concert at Goat Island in Niagara Falls State Park.

Goat Island – Niagara Falls State Park

Goat Island State Park

American Vistas

Congregation Beth Israel

Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra (PSYO) performs their season finale concert under the baton of Music Director Dr. Jacob Sustaita, including a performance by one of the annual PSYO Concerto Competition winners.

PSYO: Monuments

Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

Experience the awe-inspiring beauty of the Southwest landscape through the Phoenix Symphony's final classical concerts of the season, featuring the "Grand Canyon Suite." Under the baton of conductor Thomas Wilkins, the orchestra will bring to life Grofe’s cinematic masterpiece, offering five musical scenes that capture the essence of one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The concert will also highlight Aaron Copland’s popular "El Salón México" and the "Fandango Violin Concerto" by contemporary Mexican composer Arturo Márquez, featuring Spanish violinist Francisco Fullana. This maria chi-flavored work promises to be a vibrant addition to the program.

**Concert Repertoire:**
- Copland: El Salón México
- Márquez: Fandango Violin Concerto
- Grofe: Grand Canyon Suite
- Mystery Piece

**Performance Dates and Times:**
- Friday, May 16, 2025, at 7:30 PM
- Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 7:30 PM
- Sunday, May 18, 2025, at 2:00 PM

**Location:** Symphony Hall, part of the Classics Series.

Subscribers who are interested in attending four or more performances can save 20%. Don't miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in the musical landscapes of the Grand Canyon and beyond.

Grand Canyon Suite

Phoenix Convention Center

Join the Phoenix Symphony for a unique and immersive experience with "Coffee, Conversations & Classics - Grand Canyon Suite." This event offers a rare opportunity to witness the Phoenix Symphony during their working, open rehearsals. Hosted and moderated by Alex Amsel, the Phoenix Symphony Associate Conductor, attendees will get an insider's view as the orchestra prepares for an upcoming concert. The event promises an engaging Q&A session with the guest conductor and musicians, allowing for a deeper understanding and connection to the music and its creators.

The highlight of this event is the performance of Grofe’s cinematic "Grand Canyon Suite," which beautifully captures the essence of the Southwest landscape. Under the baton of conductor Thomas Wilkins, the orchestra will bring to life this masterpiece, offering five musical scenes that depict one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The concert will also feature Aaron Copland’s popular "El Salón México" and the "Fandango Violin Concerto" by Arturo Márquez, a mariachi-flavored piece performed by Spanish violinist Francisco Fullana.

The event is set to take place at Symphony Hall on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 10:00 AM. Seating is general admission, ensuring a casual and intimate atmosphere perfect for music lovers and those looking to experience the Phoenix Symphony in a new light. Don't miss this chance to enjoy a morning filled with captivating music, insightful conversations, and the classic beauty of the Grand Canyon Suite.

Coffee, Conversations & Classics – Grand Canyon Suite

Place and Spirit

Empress Theatre

A concert for nature and classical music lovers! From Duparc’s gentle soothing Aux Etoilles–to the stars–to Grofe’s Grand Canyon Suite, a constant of school music listening as well as the template for every film score about the American west. Mysterious Mountain by Hovhaness evokes a zen-like sense of calm. He shared, “mountains are symbols…like pyramids…man’s attempt to know God.” This piece holds the distinction of premiering live on TV with none other than Leopoldo Stokowski conducting.

For The Love Of Nature

Interlochen Center for the Arts

The IVSO proudly presents the winners of the 2025 Young Performers Competition, along with Aureate Skylines by award-winning composer Elliot Leung and Lyric for Strings, a moving piece by African American composer George Walker. Prominently featured is Ferde Grofé’s picturesque Grand Canyon Suite.

Stunning Soundscapes

Ottawa Township High School

Butte native son William Cook gives us his ‘Blacktail Creek’ tone poem in our series of new commissioned music. Expanding on our aquatic theme, we add Handel’s ‘Suite of Watermusic’, Ferde Grofé’s wonderful ‘The Mississippi Suite’, and a silent film with the orchestra playing for favorite Buster Keaton in “The Boat”.

The Flow of Music

The Mother Lode Theatre

Keith Lockhart leads the BPO in a musical expedition to the vast landscapes of America, starting with Germaine Tailleferre’s enchanting compositions, showcasing the orchestra’s versatility. Clayton Stephenson, a pianist of remarkable talent and sensitivity, then takes center stage with Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major, a piece that captures the essence of jazz’s influence on classical music. The journey culminates with Grofé’s Grand Canyon Suite, an audacious depiction of natural beauty and grandeur. This concert promises to be a transcendent exploration of music’s power to evoke the majesty of the American spirit and the wonders of its landscapes.

Lockhart Conducts Grand Canyon Suite

Kleinhans Music Hall

Guest Artists visit SFCM to share their expertise with student musicians. David Howard is a retired solo bass clarinetist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and clarinet professor at the USC Thornton School of Music.

David Howard, clarinet

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Join us in exploring the rugged beauty of the American West, in partnership with the C.M. Russell Museum. Experience the passion of Ferde Grofe’s Grand Canyon Suite, Libby Larsen’s Deep Summer Music, and Aaron Copland’s timeless Rodeo and Fanfare for the Common Man.

Rodeo

Mansfield Theater

Edwin Outwater conducts the SF Symphony in our annual free Stern Grove Festival concert in the beautiful outdoor amphitheater, located at 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard. Pack a picnic, grab some friends, and relax as the Orchestra fills the summer air with sparkling masterworks and hits with versatile vocalist Jessica Vosk



Stern Grove Festival

Immerse yourself in a captivating evening of classical music with the "Night of Strings at the Garden: Chamber Classics" event, presented by the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. This enchanting concert is scheduled for Friday, June 7, 2024, at 7:30 PM, set against the picturesque backdrop of the Fort Worth Botanic Garden.

The program promises an intimate chamber experience that showcases a selection of timeless classics from the repertoires of Mozart, Grieg, Dvořák, and Tchaikovsky. Highlighting the evening is Coleridge-Taylor’s Novelette No. 1, a piece that reflects the composer's profound love and understanding of the violin, promising to be a treat for string enthusiasts. The concert also ventures into the American landscape with Grofe’s evocative "On the Trail" from the Grand Canyon Suite and a strings-only rendition of Copland's exhilarating "Hoe-Down" from Rodeo, adding a touch of the western frontier to the night.

The event will feature the talented Taichi Fukumura as conductor, guiding the audience through a journey of musical emotions and landscapes. Attendees can look forward to a diverse program that includes:
- MOZART: Divertimento I. Allegro
- COLERIDGE-TAYLOR: Novelette No. 1
- GRIEG: Anitra's Dance from Peer Gynt Suite No. 1
- GROFE: On the Trail from Grand Canyon Suite
- AARON COPLAND: Hoe-Down from Rodeo
- WILLIAM GRANT STILL: Danzas de Panama IV. Cumbia y Congo
- TCHAIKOVSKY: Serenade for Strings III. Élégie
- DVOŘÁK: Serenade for Strings V. Finale

To enhance your experience, the event offers FREE parking for all attendees, ensuring a hassle-free evening of music and beauty. This indoor concert provides a perfect setting to enjoy the masterful works of classical music in a serene garden environment.

Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a memorable night that celebrates the beauty and versatility of string instruments through classical masterpieces. Join us at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden for an evening that promises to be a highlight of the cultural calendar.

Night of Strings at the Garden: Chamber Classics

Fort Worth Botanic Garden

The symphony’s flagship classical series concludes with two WORLD PREMIERES: Kachina, by Amber Ferenz, and a commission for orchestra of music inspired by the foothills region by American composer Daniel Perttu. Grofé’s picturesque Grand Canyon Suite closes the series.

Masterworks: Landscapes

Lenoir-Rhyne University

Mon cher! The MSO is excited to present the Clarinet Queen of New Orleans, Doreen Ketchens for an exclusive performance of Dixieland favorites in her unique and inimitable style, accompanied by the full orchestra. This performance by one of the greatest jazz clarinetists of all time is sure to be a memorable experience. The first half of the program includes Ferde Grofé’s symphonic homage to New Orleans, Mississippi Suite.

Laissez Les Bons Temps Roulez!

CSYO Concert Orchestra Walk Abouts

Cincinnati Music Hall

Stunning vistas, desert waterfalls, ancient cliffside ruins, wind-carved slot canyons, paint deserts, and surprising islands of life in a rugged, unforgettable land this is Grand Canyon Country: Attracting nearly 5 million visitors each year, the Grand Canyon is one of the most celebrated natural wonders on the planet. Audiences will experience Grofé’s most famous musical work in an entirely new way, both hearing and seeing what makes the canyon so legendary, as told through hundreds of panoramic photographs made from seldom-seen locations.

Visit the Grand Canyon

Grants Pass High School

Collier Center for the Performing Arts

The Southwest Symphony Orchestra Journeys Southwest!

Trinity Christian College

Jimmy Huang is a fifth-grade student at Lakeside Middle School. He has been studying with Dr. Yelena Balabanova at the International Conservatory Studio since 2015. In 2022-23, Jimmy notably won Gold Medals in the Bellevue Symphony Concerto Competition, SCMTA Concerto Competition, Cascade Symphony Rising Star Concerto Competition and Chopin NW Concerto Competition. He performed with Mukilteo Orchestra in December 2022, Cascade Symphony in February 2023.

Opening Night and A Bit of Halloween

Edmonds Center For the Arts

Join the North Valley Symphony Orchestra (NVSO) for an unforgettable evening celebrating the "Spirit of the American West" on Saturday, May 20, 2023, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. This captivating concert will take place at the North Canyon High School Auditorium, located at 1700 East Union Hills Drive, Phoenix, AZ, 85024.

Immerse yourself in the vibrant and adventurous spirit of the American West through an exciting selection of music. The concert will feature iconic film scores from beloved westerns, the dynamic movements of Copland’s "Rodeo," and the evocative "On the Trail" from Ferde Grofé’s "Grand Canyon Suite." This performance promises to be a thrilling journey through the sounds and stories that have shaped the American West's cultural landscape.

Please note that online ticket sales for "Spirit of the American West" are now closed. However, tickets will be available for purchase in the lobby on the day of the event. Don't miss this opportunity to experience the magic of the American West brought to life by the talented musicians of NVSO.

Spirit of the American West

North Canyon High School

The Danbury Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Ariel Rudiakov, will perform a concert of American composers.

Danbury Symphony Orchestra: American Soundscapes

Western Connecticut State University - Westside Campus

Explore well-known works and discover new treasures of the musical repertory in our Guided Listening sessions with JoAnna Cochenet.

Join us for a plunge into the Grand Canyon Suite by Ferde Grofé and stroll through his Death Valley Suite as our musical tour of the American landscape heads to Arizona and southern California.

Guided Listening: Grofé’s Grand Canyon Suite and Death Valley Suite 

The natural world is filled with music. Louis Gottschalk set out to capture the sounds of the tropics at night and their Latin rhythms by day in his only symphony, A Night in the Tropics. Grofé heard a very different sonic landscape as he composed a musical journey through the Grand Canyon in his iconic Grand Canyon Suite. Most recently, Lori Laitman imagines the journey of life through melodic roots and branches in her Becoming a Redwood. Travel with us to these very special destinations in our “Back to Nature” concert.

Back to Nature

Jackson Theater, Sonoma Country Day School

Bassist Michael Thurber (Royal Shakespeare Company, Late Show with Stephen Colbert) and violinist Tessa Lark (Winner, 2008 Klein Competition, Naumburg and Indianapolis Violin Competitions, Avery Fisher Career Grant) perform the World Premiere of Thurber's Double Concerto for Violin and Bass in a sparkling all-American evening of music by star-caliber American masters - Bernstein, Gershwin, Grofé, and the great African-American composer Florence Price.

ALL-AMERICAN PROGRAM

Heritage Theatre

San Mateo High School

Zum beschwingten Jahresausklang zünden wir ein rhythmisches Feuerwerk. Laut Gershwins Aus­sage ist seine »Cuban Overture« von 1932 die Frucht »zweier wahnsinniger Wochen in Kuba«. Tänze wie Rumba, neuartige Schlaginstrumente und Volks­lieder wie das damals berühmte »Échale Salsita« hat er in dem temperamentvollen Werk vereint. Mit seiner 1924 uraufgeführten »Rhapsody in Blue« wollte er ein »musikalisches Kaleidoskop Amerikas – unseres ungeheuren Schmelztiegels« zeichnen. Swingthemen, zündende Rhythmen und Blueselemente erscheinen in dem Meisterwerk in einer lockeren Fügung. Prominenter Solist dafür ist Kirill Gerstein. Mit der 1926 komponierten Musik von Ferde Grofé gibt es einen Ausflug zum »Vater der Gewässer«: Wir beschwören die Abenteuer von Huckleberry Finn herauf, der auf der Suche nach einem besseren Leben in Mark Twains Geschichte den Mississippi hinabzieht. Bernstein schuf einen Gassenhauer mit seiner »West Side Story«, der modernen Version von Shakespeares »Romeo und Julia«: ein Kampf zweier Straßenbanden und die Geschichte einer Liebesbeziehung, die über die Fronten hinweg existiert. Die »Symphonischen Tänze« enthalten berühmte Melodien wie die des hoffnungsvollen Liedes »Somewhere«, außerdem üppige Klangwirkungen mit zahlreichen Latin-Rhythmen. Bernsteins komische Operette »Candide« nach Voltaires Gesellschaftssatire entstand 1956 und ist ein rasanter musikalischer Streifzug durch verschiedene europäische Länder bis nach Südamerika. Loriot umschrieb das Werk mit den humorvollen Worten: »Candide liebt Cuni­gunde, und wir begleiten das Paar – meist getrennt – auf einer Art Abenteuerurlaub, wobei die sympathischen Liebesleute sich nichts entgehen lassen, was den zeitgemäßen Tourismus so kurzweilig gestaltet.«

Mit Gershwin und Bernstein ins Neue Jahr

Konzerthalle

Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor,” composer and virtuoso pianist Daniel Lessner; “The Big Country” by Jerome Moross, Elmer Bernstein’s “The Magnificent Seven,” Aaron Copland’s “Billy the Kid,” and Ferde Grofé’s “Grand Canyon Suite.”

The Emperor’s Roundup

Walt Disney Concert Hall

The music of America is dazzling and full of timbres! With locomotive driver Juri, we'll embark on a journey across the continent. We'll begin on the legendary steam locomotive Pacific 231. In the Wild West, we'll see the Grand Canyon and stop off at a cowboy's house for a boisterous feast. Then we'll head south toward Mexico and even Brazil – a journey full of adventure with fascinating instruments and stunningly beautiful music!

Composer

Ferde Grofé

Events

Upcoming events

8 - 9 May, 2026

Music Express · Münchner Rundfunkorchester

Past events

Apr 18, 2026

POPS Concert: America 250 Celebration · Sedona Symphony

14 - 15 Mar, 2026

Grand Canyon Suite + American Stories · Greenville Symphony

About

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