As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, this program celebrates American music as an evolving expression of culture and history. Carlos Simon’s Four Black American Dances brings contemporary energy to the orchestral stage, drawing on Black American dance traditions and percussion that echoes movement itself. Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto represents one of the most beloved lyrical statements in American music performed by special guest artist William Hagen.

Howard Hanson’s Symphony No. 2 “Romantic,” written in 1930, reflects the belief that music should speak first to the emotions, unfolding in long‑lined themes and radiant orchestral textures.

Together, these works span nearly a century of American composition, offering a vivid portrait of the American symphonic tradition.