Ellis Island: The Dream of America

Featuring actors from Tupelo Community Theatre and Celebrating America at 250, the program opens with she flies with her own wings, a bold and uplifting orchestral fanfare by Oregon composer Kenji Bunch that celebrates independence, courage, and forward motion. The luminous and deeply moving blue cathedral — one of the most beloved orchestral works of our time — by Pulitzer Prize–winning composer Jennifer Higdon is an ethereal, soaring, and profoundly beautiful modern classic that presents moments of reflection, wonder, and emotional resonance. The program culminates in Peter Boyer’s powerful Ellis Island: The Dream of America. Combining orchestra with spoken narratives drawn from real immigrant stories, this work brings history to life with emotional immediacy and cinematic sweep. The program is a tribute to resilience, hope, and the diverse voices that shaped a nation.