A message from conductor
Karen P. Thomas
“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.”
—Amendment XIX of the United States Constitution
It is no stretch of the imagination to note that we live in historic times. Against the backdrop of active assaults upon the basic tenets of our democracy, there are signs of hope, such as the Equal Rights Amendment inching closer to reality after languishing for decades. And while this concert was meant to honor the 100th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment, we cannot overlook the ways in which America has failed in the last 100-plus years to deliver on the promise of one person, one vote. We hope that this collection of music from American women composers will serve as inspiration for the power and beauty that emerge when voices from all corners are heard from.
Indeed, this program abounds with musical riches. The greeting song Sorida by Rosephanye Powell sounds a joyful, welcoming note to begin our performance. We honor choral pioneers Undine Smith Moore and Alice Parker with mid-century works by these beloved creators. The vision of America as a welcoming country for immigrants is explored in Her beacon-hand beckons by Pulitzer Prize-winner Caroline Shaw, as she responds to “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus, the poem mounted on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. Young composers Reena Esmail and Shruthi Rajasekar offer us thrilling pieces that blend the sounds and complex rhythms of classical Indian music with Western classical music. And we salute Northwest composers with works from Melinda Bargreen, Carol Sams, and myself.
We are so grateful to be sharing this inspiring concert with you after our 2020 performances were delayed by the outbreak of COVID-19. We hope you will agree with us that this collection of music has been worth the wait.
Sincerely,
Karen P. Thomas
Artistic Director and Conductor