This program was carefully curated to explore themes of strength, inner fire, and the resilience of the human spirit, particularly from voices that often go unheard or are underrepresented. As a conductor-teacher, my programming ideas involve selecting beautiful music and creating space for meaningful, diverse storytelling that resonates deeply with the members of this ensemble and with you, our audience.

In building this program, I intentionally sought works beyond traditional, male-centered, predominantly white narratives to celebrate women's perspectives, people of color, and other marginalized communities. The diversity of this ensemble is central to the program, and it was essential to select music that honors and reflects their identities and experiences. Many composers featured this afternoon live, create, and speak from places of truth, aligned with our goals as educators. These works invite us to engage with complex issues such as social justice, gender equity, and reclaiming one’s narrative while fostering artistic and pedagogical growth. By stepping outside the traditional "male gaze" that often shapes choral music, we expand our repertoire, offering our singers opportunities to connect with texts that reflect their own experiences or challenge them to empathize with others, supporting their growth as both musicians and compassionate, informed individuals.

Hildegard von Bingen’s ancient yet timeless text, with music by Lee Kesselman, opens the concert. It evokes the fiery life force within all living things and sets the stage for a broader exploration of strength, vitality, and connection to the divine. 

Next, we explore a fiery woman in Dr. Zanaida Robles' No Fairy Tale Here, a powerful tribute to Ida B. Wells and her fight against racial injustice. Drawing from Wells' works Southern Horrors and The Red Record, the piece exposes the brutal realities of lynching and society's refusal to confront its past. Robles channels Wells' resilience, reminding us that her pen was a weapon of truth in battles that continue today. Raw and emotional, this piece highlights the ongoing fight against oppression and the empowering role of self-expression and resistance through art. 

Florence B. Price’s Night challenges white-centered notions of beauty and strength, offering a new perspective where darkness and light coexist. Based on a poem by Bessie Mayle, first published in The Crisis in 1930, the piece celebrates Blackness, with the night sky as a metaphor for the richness of Black culture. Price’s music embraces this imagery, turning the "ruling stars" into a subtle reference to the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade. Ending on a high note with "evermore," Price affirms the enduring beauty of Blackness.

In Desert Song, the speaker’s journey contrasts the ocean’s chaotic pull with the desert’s calm, symbolizing a shift from confusion to clarity. Nature imagery reflects their desire for freedom and self-discovery, suggesting that true liberation comes from embracing life’s unpredictability. The transition from turmoil to peace emphasizes the role of introspection and nature in understanding oneself.

In Craig Carnelia's Flight, the theme of freedom and self-discovery is powerfully expressed through the speaker’s yearning to break free from life’s limitations. Vivid nature imagery, like "sway like the shade of a tree" and "swirl like a cloud in a storm," symbolizes their deep desire for liberation and personal growth. These metaphors suggest that true freedom comes from embracing life’s uncertainties. The speaker's wish to "leave behind all the clouds in my mind" underscores a longing for clarity, highlighting the essential role of introspection in the journey toward self-discovery.

We close this afternoon with Stuart Chapman Hill's The Light That Will Lead You Home, a reminder that even in the darkest times, there is hope, community, and a path forward. Music has the power to reflect life’s complexities, and I hope that as you listen, you feel both the challenges and the joy in these pieces.