Imani Winds* +

Stewart Goodyear, pianist

The People Could Fly: America at 250

Blending music and narrative, and inspired by the African American folktale The People Could Fly, this program marks America’s 250th year with a mediation on freedom, memory, and transformation. Rather than a patriotic celebration, it offers a space for reflection – a journey through works by living composers who give voice to migration, resistance, and the ongoing pursuit of justice.

Imani Winds joins forces with the dynamic pianist and composer Stewart Goodyear who unveils not one, but two new works commissioned especially for this event – bold, thought- provoking pieces that resonate deeply with today’s social and cultural landscape.

Program:

Norman Hutchins, arr. Allison Loggins-Hull: Emmanuel (4’)

Shawn Okpebholo: Rise (I. Seeds, II. Harmony, III. Spark!) (13’)

Paquito D’Rivera: Kites (I. Kites Over Havana, II. Wind Chimes) (20’)

**intermission**

Stewart Goodyear: Introduction + Rondo Capriccioso (7’)
Stewart Goodyear, pianist

Stewart Goodyear: New Work for Wind Quintet (5’)

Imani Winds

Stewart Goodyear: New Work for Sextet (20’)

Imani Winds + Stewart Goodyear