American Sound Takes Flight:
Digital Program
American Sound Takes Flight
FROM AARON COPLAND TO PAUL SIMON - OUR MUSICAL PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
Through composer Aaron Copland’s deviation from European classical music and his ability to fold in new genres, Copland uncovered a new American sound, one that celebrated the people. This movement gave birth to trailblazing artists - everyone from Leonard Bernstein to Paul Simon, to Rhiannon Giddens, and beyond!
From “Simple Gifts,” to “American Tune,” connect with the history behind the creation of our diverse and democratic American Sound. Featuring Liv Redpath, Brandon Victor Dixon, and the MUSE/IQUE Orchestra, led by Artistic & Music Director Rachael Worby.
Presented at The Wallis and Ambassador Auditorium, October 2026.
American Sound Takes Flight
Program Repertoire
Hoe-Down - Aaron Copland
MUSE/IQUE Orchestra
The Little Horses - Traditional, arr. Aaron Copland
Liv Redpath, Alan Steinberger
Zion’s Walls - John G. McCurry, arr. Aaron Copland
Liv Redpath, MUSE/IQUE Orchestra
Sinnerman - Spiritual, arr. Rob Schaer
Brandon Victor Dixon, MUSE/IQUE Orchestra
Simple Gifts - John Williams
Juan Gallegos, Alyssa Park, Alan Steinberger, Charlie Tyler
Filmed Dance
Kitty McNamee (director and choreographer). Silvia Grav (cinematographer). Raymond Ejiofor, Liv Mai, Hanna Peddicord, Jordyn Santiago, Owen Scarlett, Diána Worby (dancers).
Mambo - Leonard Bernstein
MUSE/IQUE Orchestra
Somewhere - Leonard Bernstein
Liv Redpath, MUSE/IQUE Orchestra
A Change Is Gonna Come - Sam Cooke, arr. Jamey Tate
Brandon Victor Dixon, MUSE/IQUE Orchestra
Overture from OMAR - Michael Abels, Rhiannon Giddens
MUSE/IQUE Orchestra
American Tune - Paul Simon, arr. Michael Valerio
Liv Redpath, MUSE/IQUE Orchestra
Mrs. Robinson - Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, arr. Michael Valerio
Brandon Victor Dixon, MUSE/IQUE Orchestra
I Will Always Love You - Dolly Parton, arr. Rob Schaer
Liv Redpath, MUSE/IQUE Orchestra
Purple Rain - Prince
Brandon Victor Dixon, MUSE/IQUE Orchestra
America the Beautiful - Katharine Lee Bates, Samuel A. Ward, arr. Rob Schaer
Brandon Victor Dixon, Liv Redpath, MUSE/IQUE Orchestra
America Sound Takes Flight
Featured Paintings
Music from American Sound Takes Flight inspired visual pairing from the following painters and artists:
American Sound Takes Flight
Artists
Liv Redpath (vocals)
Liv Redpath is a leading soprano quickly establishing herself in diverse operatic and symphonic repertoire around the world. Favorite roles include Sophie (Der Rosenkavalier), the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor, Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro), Oscar (Un ballo in maschera), and Agnès (Written on Skin), with projects at The Metropolitan Opera, Berliner Philharmoniker, Bayerische Staatsoper, Santa Fe Opera, LA Opera, LA Phil, LA Master Chorale, Covent Garden, and Cleveland Orchestra amongst others.
@liv.redpath on social platforms.
Brandon Victor Dixon (vocals)
Brandon Victor Dixon is a Grammy Award winner who has also been nominated for an Emmy, and 3 Tony Awards. A Presidential Scholar Semi-finalist, Brandon studied at the British Academy of Dramatic Acting in Oxford, and is a graduate of Columbia University. Broadway: Hamilton, Shuffle Along (Tony nom.), The Color Purple (Tony nom.), Motown The Musical (Grammy nom.), The Scottsboro Boys (Olivier, Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel, Outer Critics Circle, Drama League, and Audelco noms.), Hell’s Kitchen (Grammy Award & Tony nom.).
@brandonvdixon on social platforms.
American Sound Takes Flight
MUSE/IQUE Orchestra
Led by Artistic & Music Director Rachael Worby
First Violins
Alyssa Park (concertmaster), Ashoka Thiarajagan, Marisa Kuney, Lisa Dondlinger, Haesol Lee, Kayvon Sesar, Gallia Kastner
Second Violins
Ina Veli, Neel Hammond, Ani Sinanyan, Xenia Deviatkina-Loh, Camille Miller
Violas
Shawn Mann, Rodney Wirtz, Jarrett Threadgill, Sunwoo Lee
Cellos
Charlie Tyler, Ismael Guerrero, Sarah Kim, Yun Han
Contrabasses
Nathan Farrington (electric bass), Tim Eckert
Flute
Rachel Mellis, Brandon Fields (tenor saxophone)
Oboe
Jennifer Cullinan
Clarinet
Juan Gallegos, Jack Lanhardt (alto saxophone)
Bassoon
Amber Wyman
Horns
Laura Brenes, Katie Faurado, Emily Pesavento
Trumpets
Rob Schaer, Christopher Gray, Joe Harris
Trombones
Spencer Schaffer, Stephen Hannan, Byron Sleugh
Tuba
P. Blake Cooper
Drums, Timpani, and Percussion
Jamey Tate, Tyler Stell, Dante Luna, Cash Langi
Keyboards
Alan Steinberger
Guitar
Michael Abraham
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, Jamey Tate, and Michael Valerio.
American Sound Takes Flight
Sponsors
Presented in Partnership with The Wallis
Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, located in the heart of Beverly Hills, CA, is a dynamic cultural hub and community resource where local, national, and international artists share their artistry with ever-expanding audiences. Since its doors opened in October 2013, The Wallis has been committed to robust and distinctive presentations and education programs curated with both creativity and social impact in mind.
Proudly Sponsored by Classical California
Classical California is now easier than ever to enjoy, with a new unified website and a brand-new app that brings together the former KUSC and KDFC services into one statewide home for classical music. Listeners can explore what’s playing, discover hand-picked programs from friendly hosts (no algorithms, just humans with good taste), find arts events, and stream anywhere, anytime. It’s all free, listener-supported, and designed to make everyday life more harmonious. Visit classicalcalifornia.org or download the Classical California app to listen.
Additional Venue Information
The Wallis
Deeply rooted in our local Beverly Hills community and influenced by cultural change, the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, a public-private partnership with the City of Beverly Hills, strives to be a site for the convergence of relevant, dynamic performing arts, education and civic life, strengthening our local and global community in our role as a presenter, producer, educator and community resource.
Core Values
We approach our work with the pioneering creative spirit of Beverly Hills and greater Los Angeles, while also recognizing that we live in a multi-cultural ever-changing world and that we will face continuous challenges. We navigate that changing world guided by the following core values:
Trust: We believe that trust among our fellow humans is a core tenet of our ability to accomplish our mission and vision and we are committed to building that trust among staff, board, audiences, artists and the community. Inherent in this trust is a generosity of spirit towards each other, a commitment to behaving with integrity, and respect for the views of those with whom we disagree.
Artistic Courage: We believe freedom of artistic expression is essential for our work. Artists and Wallis staff need to feel safe and supported in generating and sharing bold and provocative work. While everyone has a right to dislike any particular work, such views shall not be used to censor or inhibit future programming.
Enlightenment: We value innovation and ambition, allowing us to take on the challenge of bold work that will advance our mission and vision. We strive to provide opportunities to feel, to think, to provoke, and to dream together.
Cooperation: We believe our best work comes though teamwork, trust and the ability to work together in pursuit of our mission.
Communication: We believe the key to effective communication is the art of listening -- , considering and taking seriously all points of view. We embrace diverse voices and respect all points of view, even if we disagree. Our goal is to create human connectedness through meaningful shared arts experiences. Our marketing and community engagement will enable our goal of creating meaningful ongoing relationships with our audiences and community. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: We respect, honor, commit to and celebrate the full range of diverse backgrounds, abilities, identities and orientations that comprise our community, our country and our world. We are committed to equity; to deliberately elevating the voices of those who have not always been heard, using the platform we have to give voice to marginalized groups. We hope our audiences will mirror the wonderful diversity of our local community and our region.
Accountability: We recognize that we have been and continue to be entrusted with the public’s resources and revenue. We will be responsible stewards of these resources and transparent about how they are deployed in pursuit of our mission. We will strive to balance essential artistic risk with fiscal prudence.
Pasadena Ambassador Auditorium
Welcome to Ambassador Auditorium!
On behalf of Harvest Rock Church, welcome! We're honored to host you tonight, and we are glad you're here.
For more than 50 years, Ambassador Auditorium has been called the "Carnegie Hall of the West." Some of the world's great artists have played on this stage, and we believe the building was made to hold beauty, excellence and moments that stay with you. Tonight carries that on, and we're grateful to share this space with you and with the artists who bring it to life.
We care about this city. Harvest Rock is a Pasadena church family made up of people from every background, age and stage of life. We believe in a God who meets people right where they are, and we'd love for you to experience that with us.
Whether this is your first visit to Ambassador or your fiftieth, you are welcome here, at every concert and every Sunday.
With gratitude,
Harvest Rock Church. Join us Sundays ·10 am
Ambassador Auditorium · 131 S. St. John Ave, Pasadena
harvestrock.church.