Step into a world where imagination, innovation, and artistry collide. This dynamic program celebrates the power of creativity across generations, from the steam-powered fantasies of a Victorian alternate history to bold visions of America's future.

Erika Svanoe’s Steampunk Suite opens the evening with a whimsical journey through an inventive world populated by historical icons, clockwork machinery, and the spirit of boundless possibility. Viet Cuong’s Re(new)al follows with a vibrant concerto for percussion quartet and wind ensemble, transforming everyday objects into instruments and exploring the collective energy that drives progress and renewal.

At the heart of the program is Frank Ticheli’s exhilarating Concerto for Clarinet and Wind Ensemble, featuring a virtuosic solo performance inspired by the music and personalities of Gershwin, Copland, and Bernstein. Equal parts dazzling and expressive, the concerto showcases the clarinet’s remarkable range and character.

The second half turns toward distinctly American landscapes and traditions. Michael Daugherty’s American Gothic draws inspiration from the paintings of Grant Wood, painting vivid musical portraits of rural Iowa through colorful orchestration, haunting lyricism, and playful humor. The concert concludes with Kevin Day’s Dancing Fire, an electrifying celebration of community and joy, capturing the image of friends gathered around a bonfire in a whirlwind of rhythm, energy, and exuberance.

Andy Hudson, Clarinet
Garret Arney, Percussion
Ksenija Komljenović, Percussion
Antek Olesik, Percussion
Peter White, Percussion
Rex McGee, Fiddle