WINTERTHUR, Del. — What does American music sound like today, and where might it go next? Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library will explore that question with “America’s Past and Future Through Music,” an hour-long recital on Saturday, Sept. 12, from 6:00–7:00 pm in Copeland Lecture Hall.
The program brings together iconic music by American composer Aaron Copland, pioneering American composer Amy Beach, and three contemporary voices selected through a call for scores issued by Philadelphia-based composer and violinist Tommy Dougherty, who will host the program. The selected composers are Whitney George, Dan VanHassel, and Sam Wu.
The recital will feature Eliot Heaton, violinist with The Philadelphia Orchestra, and Thomas Weaver, pianist and associate chair of musical studies at the Curtis Institute of Music. Heaton joined The Philadelphia Orchestra in 2024 and is an advocate for new music. Weaver is an accomplished pianist, composer, and conductor with a particular interest in contemporary music and has premiered numerous new works.
The resulting program creates a musical conversation across generations: from the distinctly American voices of Beach and Copland to composers shaping what American music sounds like now.
The three call for scores selections offer varied perspectives on contemporary American composition. Brooklyn-based Whitney George is a composer, conductor, and interdisciplinary artist whose work spans installation, staged opera and film. Dan VanHassel, based in Boston, incorporates influences ranging from rock and heavy metal to Indonesian gamelan, free improvisation, and classical music. Las Vegas-based Sam Wu, whose music has been performed internationally, draws inspiration from subjects including architecture, urban planning, and the search for life beyond Earth. Dougherty’s “Giancore!” will also be performed.
Presented in honor of America’s 250th anniversary, the concert offers a distinctly contemporary way to consider the country’s musical heritage, not as a finished story, but as one continually being written. The call for scores drew about 30 submissions, offering a rich selection of previously composed works for consideration. The three works selected were chosen for their compelling musical voices, strengths for violin and piano, and the recital format. For tickets and information, visit Winterthur’s website at www.winterthur.org or call 800-448-3833.
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ABOUT WINTERTHUR MUSEUM, GARDEN & LIBRARY
Winterthur—known worldwide for its preeminent collection of American decorative arts, naturalistic garden, and research library for the study of American art and material culture— offers a variety of tours, exhibitions, programs, and activities throughout the year. Admission includes an introductory house tour, exhibitions, a narrated tram ride (weather and space permitting), and the Winterthur Garden.
Contact: Lisa McVey, lmcvey@winterthur.org or 302.888.4803