Phenomenal Women
Raising awareness for Turning Point for Domestic Violence
Deanna Tham, music director
Mendelssohn-Hensel, Overture in C Major
Larsen, Deep Summer Music
Coleman, Phenomenal Women
Tower, Made in America
Higdon, Amazing Grace
Beach, Symphony in E minor, “Gaelic”
Photo of Rupi Kaur, poet
This concert is one of music written by all female composers. Overlooked and under appreciated in the written history of music until recently, women have a unique voice — seeing the world as they hold it up from behind the front lines.
The concert explores different facets of peace, joy, and power. Each composer weaves compelling tales, and evokes a rare empathy, insight, and thoughtfulness that is pervasive amongst great storytellers. Join us as we explore the many facets of humanity through a fascinating lens — from Fanny Mendelssohn, who was forced to publish under her brother’s name, to Valerie Coleman, flautist of the Imani Winds and virtuosic cultural artist, to Libby Larsen, Jennifer Higdon, and Joan Tower, among the first modern female composers to have their names regularly programmed in concert halls all over the world, to Amy Beach, the first American woman to have a symphony published.
I think you’ll find this concert contemplative, deeply reflective, and uniquely empowering — no matter your walk of life. It is the program I am most excited to bring to life this season, as I think it has the most beautiful and subtle ways of speaking to our modern souls and conditions. I urge you to join me in this empathetic journey and celebrate the power of art together.
We are proud to present this music in conjunction with poetry by Rupi Kaur and Maya Angelou, whose singular voices offer profound insight into the strength of power of women.