John Adams Short Ride in a Fast Machine (1986)
Jaylin Vinson Scissor-Tailed (2023)
Stravinsky Octet (1923)
Soomin Kim star/ghost/mouth/sea (2021) (N.Y. Premiere)
Walter Piston Symphony No. 2 (Adagio) (1943)

Conducted by Kathleen C. Feldman, Peiwen Zou, and Mark Powell

John Adams' Short Ride in a Fast Machine (1986) is a thrilling, minimalist orchestral fanfare that simulates the exhilarating yet terrifying experience of a high-speed joyride in a sports car. Scissor-Tailed (2023) is Jaylin Vinson’s paean to the spirit and beauty of his home state of Oklahoma, symbolized by the state bird whose graceful flight and striking appearance is reflected in the lyrical and soaring melodies of the work. Igor Stravinsky’s 1923 Octet is has become a cornerstone of the wind ensemble repertoire, known for its inventive use of eight wind and brass instruments and displaying both rhythmic vitality and an elegant reinterpretation of Classical forms. Soomin Kim’s 2021 star / ghost / mouth / sea, based on the poetry of Franny Choi, is a set of four miniatures that explore the metaphors of these four keywords as a key to understanding what it means for the composer to make sense of her place in this world. The Adagio movement of Walter Piston’s 1943 Symphony No. 2, composed during World War II, is the emotional heart of the work and is known for its lyrical warmth, expressive restraint and beautifully transparent orchestration.

John Adams Short Ride in a Fast Machine (1986)
Jaylin Vinson Scissor-Tailed (2023)
Stravinsky Octet (1923)
Soomin Kim star/ghost/mouth/sea (2021) (N.Y. Premiere)
Walter Piston Symphony No. 2 (Adagio) (1943)

Conducted by Kathleen C. Feldman, Peiwen Zou, and Mark Powell

John Adams' Short Ride in a Fast Machine (1986) is a thrilling, minimalist orchestral fanfare that simulates the exhilarating yet terrifying experience of a high-speed joyride in a sports car. Scissor-Tailed (2023) is Jaylin Vinson’s paean to the spirit and beauty of his home state of Oklahoma, symbolized by the state bird whose graceful flight and striking appearance is reflected in the lyrical and soaring melodies of the work. Igor Stravinsky’s 1923 Octet is has become a cornerstone of the wind ensemble repertoire, known for its inventive use of eight wind and brass instruments and displaying both rhythmic vitality and an elegant reinterpretation of Classical forms. Soomin Kim’s 2021 star / ghost / mouth / sea, based on the poetry of Franny Choi, is a set of four miniatures that explore the metaphors of these four keywords as a key to understanding what it means for the composer to make sense of her place in this world. The Adagio movement of Walter Piston’s 1943 Symphony No. 2, composed during World War II, is the emotional heart of the work and is known for its lyrical warmth, expressive restraint and beautifully transparent orchestration.

George Chadwick “Jubilee” from Symphonic Sketches (1904)
Francis Poulenc Les Biches Suite (1939)
Kevin Poelking Unexpected Places (2023)
Bela Bartok Concerto for Orchestra (1943)

Conducted by Brett Miller, Dean Whiteside, and Mark Powell

Jubilee is the lively first movement of Symphonic Sketches (1904), a four-movement work by American composer George Whitefield Chadwick. Known for its jaunty energy and vivid orchestration, it is set to a lively, syncopated march tempo driven by brass and percussion, reminiscent of a festive holiday or parade. Francis Poulenc’s 1923 Les Biches (The Hinds) is a bright, flirtatious orchestral suite drawn from his 1923 ballet for Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. Capturing the carefree, summery spirit of 1920s Paris, the music blends neoclassical forms with jazz and parody. Kevin Poelking’s 2023 work Unexpected Places challenges assumptions about where meaningful musical influences can come from, bringing Beethoven, thrash metal, and electronic dance music into the same artistic conversation. Written in 1943 during his exile in the US, Béla Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra is one of the 20th century's most celebrated orchestral works, which treats individual orchestral instruments in a soloistic, virtuosic manner across five movements, bridging classical forms with rich, Hungarian folk rhythms.

George Chadwick “Jubilee” from Symphonic Sketches (1904)
Francis Poulenc Les Biches Suite (1939)
Kevin Poelking Unexpected Places (2023)
Bela Bartok Concerto for Orchestra (1943)

Conducted by Brett Miller, Dean Whiteside, and Mark Powell

Jubilee is the lively first movement of Symphonic Sketches (1904), a four-movement work by American composer George Whitefield Chadwick. Known for its jaunty energy and vivid orchestration, it is set to a lively, syncopated march tempo driven by brass and percussion, reminiscent of a festive holiday or parade. Francis Poulenc’s 1923 Les Biches (The Hinds) is a bright, flirtatious orchestral suite drawn from his 1923 ballet for Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. Capturing the carefree, summery spirit of 1920s Paris, the music blends neoclassical forms with jazz and parody. Kevin Poelking’s 2023 work Unexpected Places challenges assumptions about where meaningful musical influences can come from, bringing Beethoven, thrash metal, and electronic dance music into the same artistic conversation. Written in 1943 during his exile in the US, Béla Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra is one of the 20th century's most celebrated orchestral works, which treats individual orchestral instruments in a soloistic, virtuosic manner across five movements, bridging classical forms with rich, Hungarian folk rhythms.