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The American Spirit

April 28, 2024 @ 4:00 pm

$12 – $15

Buffalo High School Performing Arts Center
3:00 pm Conductor Chat
4:00 pm Concert

Program:

Jay Ungar (arr. Custer): Ashokan Farewell
Aaron Copland: Lincoln Portrait
Peter Boyer: Ellis Island: The Dream of America

We are also performing this same concert on May 5, 2024. Get tickets for that date's performance here.

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Join us as with celebrate America with three iconic and moving pieces. BCO opens with Ungar's Ashokan Farewell. This piece served as the title theme song for Ken Burn's The Civil War and is a beautiful ballad featuring the BCO strings. Next up is Copland’s famous Lincoln Portrait, a narrated piece that provides a historical look at famous folksongs and several of Lincoln’s famous speeches, including the Gettysburg address. The concert closes with Boyer's Ellis Island: The Dream of America, a multi-media experience that follows the story of seven immigrants from seven different countries as they traveled to the United States, told through music, narration and historic images.

Fun Facts:

In 1942, during WW II, Aaron Copland was commissioned by Andre Kostelanet to write a piece that was a musical portrait of an “eminent American,” Interestingly Lincoln was not his first choice. Persuaded by Kostelanet to choose a political figure, Copland ultimately chose Lincoln over Walt Whitman, a famous American poet.

Abraham was America’s 16th president, serving from March 4, 1861, to April 15, 1865. Lincoln was assassinated 42 days into his second term. Abraham Lincoln had 4 children, all sons.

On January 1, 1863, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation that declared the freedom of slaves within the confederacy.

From 1892 through 1954, Ellis Island processed over 12 million immigrant steamship passengers.

According to the National Park Service, more than 40% of immigrants can trace their ancestry back through Ellis Island.

The first immigrant to come through Ellis Island was a 17-year-old girl from Queenstown (Cork), Ireland.

On April 17, 1907, Ellis Island had their busiest day, processing 11,747 immigrants.

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Mo Perry is an actor and writer based in the Twin Cities. Her stage credits include The Guthrie, The Jungle, Children's Theatre Company, Mixed Blood, Park Square, Gremlin Theater, Torch Theater, and more. She's a member of the Artist Core with Ten Thousand Things Theater. Her essays and journalism have appeared in publications including The Atlantic, Star Tribune, Minnesota Monthly, and more. She's a contributing editor for Experience Life magazine. Mo is thrilled to be working with this team of artists and musicians to bring these stories to life.

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Bradley Greenwald is a singer, actor, writer and director. For over thirty years he has worked with almost every theater, dance company and music ensemble in the Twin Cities. He adapted Madeleine L’Engle’s novel A Wrinkle in Time into a libretto for Libby Larsen’s opera, and wrote the book and lyrics for C., an adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac, produced by Theater Latté Da. In May Johnny Skeeky, or The Remedy for Everything, an adaptation of the Puccini comedy he created with Steven Epp, will have its premiere at Theater Latté Da. Bradley has curated and written narratives for innovative spoken word/music concerts for Open Eye Theater, Music Saint Croix, St. Cloud Symphony, Oratorio Society of Minnesota and Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh. He is the recipient of a Minnesota State Arts Board Fellowship in music, the McKnight Fellowship for Theater Artists, and the Ivey Award. Bradley is Co-coordinator of MacPhail's Prelude: Singer-Actor Lab for high school students.

Three Ways to Get Tickets:

All tickets are for general admission seating. Doors open 30 minutes prior to scheduled concert time.

  • Buy Online

    Pay with your credit card online

    Purchase form will appear below as soon as tickets are available.

  • Buy at Buffalo Books

    Buffalo Books is located at:

    6 Division St E,
    Buffalo, Minnesota 55313.

  • Buy at the Door

    Tickets can also be purchased at the door prior to the start of the concert. Cash, check and credit card accepted.

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Details

Date:
April 28, 2024
Time:
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Cost:
$12 – $15

Venue

Buffalo High School Performing Arts Center
877 Bison Blvd
Buffalo, MN 55313 United States + Google Map