America 250! New Chamber Music Concert

Concert Location: Resurrected Life Church | 620 Hamilton Street, Allentown

• Tuesday, March 24, 2026 @ 7:00 pm

Join us for a vibrant chamber concert marking the 250th anniversary of our nation, spotlighting exclusively commissioned works by the Composer Collaborative.

Each piece will weave historical texts for current events into its fabric and feature baritone soloist Michael Kelly, offering a rich reflection on America’s journey through sound and song.

Celebrate our heritage, rediscover our stories — experience America 250! in music.

PROGRAM

BETTINA GRAY “John Morton’s Choice”
The Decision
Text: Inspired by John Morton’s letters (1725-1777) Founding Father from PA

ALON NECHUSHTAN “Be American”
Text: Henry Lee III eulogy of George Washington (1799)

CLARICE ASSAD “Flow” from Erie Canal Suite for Piano & Orchestra
Piano Solo, Clarice Assad (Erie Canal built 1817-1825)
III. Rhapsodic Dance

CALVIN DEIFER “Long, too Long America”
Text: Walt Whitman (1865)

AVA BLOOMFIELD “Object / / Subject”
Text: Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Edith Wharton, Kate Chopin, Ella Wheeler Wilcox
(Women authors in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s)
 
— FIRST INTERMISSION —

TOM MAHER “A Separate Peace”
Text: FDR’s Fireside Chats (1933-1944) & Ernest Hemingway’s Farewell to Arms (1929)

KEITH DONAGHUE “next to of course god america i”
Text: e. e. cummings (1926)

HOWARD J. BUSS “Where Now Rusts the Iron?”
Text: Howard J. Buss (The Iron Foundry in Allentown 1893-1966)

ETHAN MONBERG “Let America Be America Again”
Text: Langston Hughes (1936)
 
— SECOND INTERMISSION —

JOSEPH BURDOCK “voice[less]”
Text: by Joseph Burdock, inspired by Martin Niemöller (1892-1984)

STACY GARROP Repair the World “When there are no Words”
(Tikkun Olam)
Response to the Highland Park mass shooting in 2022

SCOTT WATSON “After Life”
I. Of Consolation
II. Exit
Text: Luci Shaw (1928-2025)

JORGE VERA “To Belong”
Text: by Jorge Vera

Michael Kelly Bio
With two decades of distinguished experience as a performer, educator, writer, and passionate LGBTQ+ activist, American baritone Michael Kelly has carved out a remarkable and multifaceted artistic career. His performances have captivated audiences worldwide, earning him accolades as a “mesmerizing” and “vocally splendid” artist. Michael has graced the stages of renowned international opera and orchestral companies, showcasing a diverse repertoire that spans numerous styles and historical periods. Notable venues that have hosted his artistry include Carnegie Hall, Geffen Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, Wigmore Hall, and prestigious festivals such as Santa Fe Opera and Theatre du Châtelet, as well as partnerships with symphony orchestras across the United States. His contributions to the music world are further highlighted by his appearances on nine commercially released recordings.

Michael’s extensive repertoire, ranging from Baroque to contemporary works, has led him to collaborate with some of today’s most celebrated composers, including Matthew Aucoin, Victoria Bond, Tom Cipullo, David Del Tredici, Mohammed Fairouz, John Glover, Ricky Ian Gordon, Martin Hennessy, Laura Kaminsky, Libby Larsen, Lowell Liebermann, David T. Little, Ben Moore, David Sisco, and David Wolfson. His European debut at Opernhaus Zürich in Handel’s Rinaldo with the illustrious William Christie marked a significant milestone, while his French debut at Opéra du Châtelet further showcased his international appeal. He has performed in opera, chamber, and symphonic works under the baton of distinguished conductors such as Herbert Blomstedt, Michael Christie, Andreas Delfs, Jane Glover, Benton Hess, Louis Langré, James Levine, Anne Manson, Nicholas McGegan, Steven Osgood, Leonard Slatkin, and Stephen Stubbs., demonstrating his versatility and artistic depth. In recital, he has partnered with acclaimed pianists including Bradley Moore, David Fung, Kathleen Kelly, Malcolm Martineau, Shannon McGinnis, Spencer Myer, Jonathan Ware and Brian Zeger, creating unforgettable musical experiences.

As a writer, Michael has had his words set to music by prominent composers, collaborating to create compelling art songs, concert works, and operatic pieces. He has worked with the likes of John Glover, Ben Moore, Matthew Ricketts, Kamala Sankaram, and David Sisco, with exciting projects on the horizon in collaboration with Laura Kaminsky and Tobias Picker. His role as a librettist and poet underscores his commitment to the evolution of contemporary vocal literature.

Beyond his performance career, Michael is dedicated to the art of teaching. Since 2004, he has maintained a private voice studio, nurturing singers of all levels and styles. His masterclasses at conservatories and universities emphasize vocal technique, style, and the intricacies of a sustainable career in the arts. As a guest lecturer at prestigious institutions such as Adelphi University, NYU, and SUNY Purchase, Michael inspires the next generation of artists and collaborates closely with student composers, guiding them in writing for the voice. He was a faculty member at SongFest in 2013 and currently serves as the Creative Director of RISE, a transformative training program for young professional classical singers.

In addition to his teaching, Michael co-founded and served as Artistic Director of SongFusion, a New York-based performance art ensemble that highlights song and collaborative programming across multiple art forms. He also curated the innovative digital concert series Room | to | Breathe, further showcasing his commitment to artistic exploration.

A fervent advocate for contemporary music, Michael frequently collaborates with living composers as a performer, poet, and librettist. He curated the baritone volume of art songs by living composers for NewMusicShelf’s Anthology of New Music, promoting the works of emerging talent. A proud graduate of the Eastman School of Music and Juilliard, Michael continues to inspire, educate, and perform, leaving an indelible mark on the classical music landscape.