Looking West: Digital Program

Looking West

HOW THE MYTH OF THE WESTERN FRONTIER GOT ITS START

The American West is a tale of myth, history, storytelling, and everything in between. Join MUSE/IQUE for an exciting exploration into how art shaped our perspective of the American Frontier - from fantastical Hollywood film scores and Wild West tunes, to contemporary reclaimings of the true diverse history of the North American West.

From “Home on the Range,” to “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,” to “Knockin' on Heaven's Door,” join MUSE/IQUE for an invigorating discovery of the music behind the Western Frontier!

Presented at The Huntington and Skirball Cultural Center, August 2026.

POP-UP EXHIBIT

Looking West

Photo Recap

Photography by Haoyuan Ren

Looking West

Program Repertoire

Ridin’ - Charles Badger Clark

Glynn Turman, Ross Garren

Cowboy Jubilee - Ken Carson, arr. Gabe Witcher

Damon Daunno, Raye Zaragoza, MUSE/IQUE Orchestra

Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’ - Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II

Damon Daunno, Raye Zaragoza, MUSE/IQUE Orchestra

(Ghost) Riders in the Sky: A Cowboy Legend - Stan Jones, arr. Jamey Tate

Damon Daunno, MUSE/IQUE Orchestra

Desperado - Glenn Frey, Don Henley, arr. Gabe Witcher

Raye Zaragoza, MUSE/IQUE Orchestra

Sweet Baby James - James Taylor, arr. Rob Schaer

Damon Daunno, Raye Zaragoza, MUSE/IQUE Orchestra

Old Bill is Dead - Colonel Zack Miller

Glynn Turman

Home on the Range - Daniel E. Kelley, Brewster M. Higley, arr. Jamey Tate

Raye Zaragoza, MUSE/IQUE Orchestra

Back in the Saddle Again - Gene Autry, Ray Whitley, arr. Gabe Witcher

Damon Daunno, Raye Zaragoza, MUSE/IQUE Orchestra

Allá en el Rancho Grande - Juan Díaz del Moral, Emilio Donato Uranga, arr. Gabe Witcher

Raye Zaragoza, MUSE/IQUE Orchestra

The Magnificent Seven - Elmer Bernstein, arr. Rob Schaer

MUSE/IQUE Orchestra

Ecstasy of Gold - Ennio Morricone, arr. Rob Schaer

MUSE/IQUE Orchestra

Indian Prayer - trans. Lakota Sioux Chief Yellow Lark

Glynn Turman

Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door - Bob Dylan, arr. Jamey Tate

Damon Daunno, Raye Zaragoza, MUSE/IQUE Orchestra

Happy Trails - Dale Evans, arr. Jamey Tate

Damon Daunno, Raye Zaragoza, MUSE/IQUE Orchestra

Looking West

Artists

Damon Daunno (vocals)

Damon Daunno received Tony and Grammy nominations for his performance as Curly in Daniel Fish’s revival of Oklahoma! He can be seen in AMC’s The Vampire Lestat, and his television credits include The Hating Game, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and Blue Bloods. He originated the role of Orpheus in the off-Broadway production of Hadestown at New York Theatre Workshop. Damon has performed with orchestras throughout Russia and Europe; he is a multi-instrumentalist who has scored both features and short films.

@damondaunno on social platforms.

Raye Zaragoza (vocals)

Raye Zaragoza is a Los Angeles based singer songwriter whose music explores resilience, joy, and emotional honesty. Paste Magazine called her “one of the most politically relevant artists in her genre.” Her album Hold That Spirit features collaborations exclusively with female artists and celebrates strength and community. Passionate about Indigenous visibility, Zaragoza also writes for Netflix’s Spirit Rangers. Her music has appeared on Grey’s Anatomy, Resident Alien, NCIS, and more.

@rayezaragoza on social platforms.

Glynn Turman (actor)

Emmy Award-winning actor Glynn Turman began his career onstage in 1959 in A Raisin in the Sun opposite Sidney Poitier and Ruby Dee. In film, he has starred alongside Colman Domingo in both Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Rustin, and his many TV credits include Ava DuVernay’s Queen Sugar, Women of the Movement, Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities, Black Cake, and Percy Jackson & The Olympians. For his years of incredible achievements, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2025.

@glynnturman1 on social platforms.

Looking West

MUSE/IQUE Orchestra

Led by Artistic & Music Director Rachael Worby

Harmonicas
Ross Garren

Fiddle, Mandolin, Guitar, and Vocals
Gabe Witcher

Dobro and Lap Steel Guitar
Mike Witcher

Guitars, Mandolin, and Vihuela
Andrew Synowiec

Bass and Vocals
Alan Hampton

Drums and Percussion
Jamey Tate

First Violins
Alyssa Park, concertmaster
Marisa Kuney

Second Violins
Ina Veli
Neel Hammond

Violas
Shawn Mann
Rodney Wirtz

Cellos
Charlie Tyler
Ismael Guerrero

Winds
Sarah Bach, horn
Michele Forrest, oboe and English horn
Juan Gallegos, clarinet and bass clarinet
Chris Gray, trumpet
Rob Schaer, trumpet
Byron Sleugh, trombone and bass trombone
Amy Tatum, flute and alto flute
Francisco Torres, trombone

Brady Steel, Orchestra Manager.

Musical Collaborators:

This special group works closely with MUSE/IQUE to develop and produce arrangements, advise on repertoire, and help bring the music to life. Resident arrangers Rob Schaer and Jamey Tate. Additional arrangements by Gabe Witcher.

Movement by Chadaé Nichol

Looking West
Sponsors

Presented in Partnership with The Huntington

Founded in 1919 by Henry E. and Arabella Huntington, it supports research and promotes public engagement through its expansive library, art, and botanical collections.

Presented in Partnership with Skirball Cultural Center

Open to the public since 1996, the Skirball is one of the world's most dynamic Jewish cultural institutions and among the leading cultural venues in Los Angeles.

Presented in Partnership with East West Bank

The East West Bank Art Program began 20 years ago with a mission to foster greater cultural understanding, encourage meaningful dialogue, and help bridge the East and the West through the universal language of art.

KPFK is a Proud Media Sponsor

KPFK is a listener-powered, commercial free radio station in Los Angeles. We were the first full-time FM station west of the Mississippi powered entirely by listener donations. From the beginning, the mission was plain: serve peace, culture, and honest public conversation without compromise.