Amazing Grace: Fire and Light

Amazing Grace: Fire and Light

PCE’s beloved New Year’s tradition, Amazing Grace, returns with a captivating program for chamber orchestra and vocal soloists. This annual event celebrates the universal expression of the human spirit through music, inviting a living composer to curate a concert designed to uplift and inspire. In January, we are honored to welcome Native American composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate, who will guide us on a journey of fire and light. The program includes Tate’s Chokfi’ for strings and percussion, his evocative Hymn, selections from his rhapsodic cantata Standing Bear performed by baritone Javier Arrey, and Lowak Shoppala’ (Fire and Light), a work expressing Tate’s Chickasaw heritage through music, with texts by poet Linda Hogan. The concert will also feature Samuel Barber’s dreamlike Knoxville: Summer of 1915 performed by Mvskoke soprano, Kirsten C. Kunkle.

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As a special tribute, PCE will present Mr. Impichchaachaaha’ Tate with PCE’s American Roots Artist Award for outstanding contributions to American music. Bring the family and join us in singing Amazing Grace with the whole ensemble at the end of the evening.

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Watch the Prelude, a conversation between Jerod Tate, Kirsten Kunkle, and PCE Music Director, Angel Gil-Ordóñez offering a preview of the concert.

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Browse the playbill and read Jerod Tate's program notes.