09/21/2026
Meet the Conductor that’s running the show — Dr. Samuel Chen
He conducted the Symphony Orchestra today, and together they presented “United States At ‘250’”
in the Center of Visual Arts.
If you’ve missed it, here’s a summary Dr. Chen has given us.
The concert begins with Hymn for Everyone, in which composer Jessie Montgomery reimagines the communal hymn as a meditation for orchestra, sharing the melody throughout different orchestral “choirs.” Hymn for Everyone was written during the spring of 2021 as a reflection of personal and collective challenges during the pandemic and social-policial turmoil.
Next, Made in America by Joan Tower transforms “America the Beautiful” into a bold musical journey. Inspired by her return to the United States after spending nine childhood years in Bolivia, Tower reflects on the freedoms and opportunities many Americans take for granted. The familiar melody reappears throughout the work, contrasting with darker, dissonant passages before ending with a question: how do we keep America beautiful?
The program culminates with Symphony No. 9 ‘From the New World’, composed by Antonín Dvořák during his time in the United States. Inspired by the landscapes, cultures, and possibilities of a young nation, Dvořák’s beloved masterpiece remains one of the most profound musical reflections on America—an immigrant’s vision of a country defined by aspiration, diversity, and hope.
Together, these works span more than a century of musical thought, offering a compelling portrait of America: a nation continually renewed by the voices, traditions, and dreams of those who call it home.
- Dr. Samuel Chen
