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Composers Concordance celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States with Semiquincentennial Quintet: Celebrating America @ 250, a concert bringing together seven contemporary composers and an eclectic ensemble of musicians for an evening of new music reflecting on America, its history, its people, and its many voices.The program features music by Dan Cooper, Charles Coleman, Noah Magnus, Eugene W. McBride, Ginka Mizuki, Audrey Morse, and Gene Pritsker, performed by a dynamic ensemble combining voice, clarinet, saxophone, violin, and guitar.
A centerpiece of the evening will be composer Gene Pritsker’s four-movement song cycle, African American Poets Sing America, setting poetry by four influential African American poets whose work spans more than two centuries:
Phillis Wheatley (1753–1784)
Frances Ellen Watkins Harper (1825–1911)
Claude McKay (1889–1948)
Langston Hughes (1901–1967)
Through these poets, Pritsker’s song cycle explores different perspectives on America, from its earliest years through the struggles, dreams, contradictions, and possibilities of the modern era.
Also featured is Audrey Morse’s Ode to America at 250, setting the poetry of e. e. cummings, offering another distinctive perspective on the American experience.
The concert will feature Charles Coleman, baritone; Michiyo Suzuki, clarinet; Todd Rewoldt, alto saxophone; Audrey Morse, violin; and Gene Pritsker, guitar. Poet Imelda O’Reilly will also be featured as part of the program.
Rather than presenting a single musical vision of America, Semiquincentennial Quintet brings together contrasting voices, styles, generations, and perspectives. The result is a contemporary musical portrait of a country whose identity continues to evolve.
The concert will also be live-streamed
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Event Details
Semiquincentennial Quintet:
Celebrating America @ 250
Composers:
Charles Coleman, Noah Magnus, Eugene W. McBride,
Ginka Mizuki, Audrey Morse, Gene Pritsker
Performers:
CompCord Semiquincentennial Quintet
Charles Coleman — baritone
Michiyo Suzuki — clarinet
Todd Rewoldt — alto saxophone
Audrey Morse — violin
Gene Pritsker — guitar
Featured Poet: Imelda O’Reilly
Date: Saturday, October 10th, 2026
Time: 7pm
Venue: The Ellington Room at Manhattan Plaza
400 W. 43rd Street, NYC
FREE EVENT
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Event venue
The Ellington Room, 400 WEST 43RD STREET. 2ND FL.,New York, New York, Manhattan, United States
Tickets
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