Jeri Lynne Johnson, Conductor
Melissa White, Violin
Adrian Wyard, Visuals Choreographer

William Grant Still – Festive Overture for Orchestra
James Lee III – Amer’ican
Florence Price – Violin Concerto No. 2
Antonín Dvořák – Symphony from the New World

Dvořák was convinced that the future music of this country must be founded on folk themes. “These beautiful and varied themes are the product of the soil.” Alongside Dvořák’s iconic work, this concert features composers who explore and express their visions of “America.” Those of Still and Price demonstrate the promise of Dvořák’s prediction through their use of African-American popular musical styles and melodies. In the haunting and powerful “Amer’ican” by Lee, audiences will be delighted to hear a direct quote of Dvořák’s Symphony from the New World.