Our season finale, Under the Same Breath, explores the profound connections between word, music, spirit, and community. Centered around the shared human experience of breath—the fundamental source of both spoken poetry and wind playing—this performance bridges literature and musical soundscapes in a unique, multidisciplinary showcase. Featuring a guest poet alongside an array of celebrated American repertoire, the afternoon honors the stories and expressions that tie us together.
The performance opens with a captivating live spoken word feature by our Fairfax Poet Laureate Angelique Palmer, setting an artistic and contemplative foundation for the musical journey that follows. The ensemble then launches into Alfred Reed’s exuberant, joyful masterwork The Hounds of Spring, followed by Helen May Butler’s historic march Cosmopolitan America, celebrating the pioneering spirit of early American bandmasters. The program continues to build with Chandler Wilson’s dynamic and rhythmic work Conversations, echoing the give-and-take of human dialogue through vibrant instrumental section exchanges.
The concert reaches its centerpiece with Will Healy’s genre-bending work Noctuary for Ade, merging modern classicism, hip-hop, and spoken word into a powerful, living narrative. Under the Same Breath brings our entire season to a deeply resonant and inspiring close, reminding us of the power of storytelling when shared under one roof and through a single, unified breath.
Admission is free, but a ticket is required!
Enter through Door 5 and continue to the auditorium.