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Press Releases
Orchestra Lumos Announces World Premiere of Five American Portraits as The Finale of The ’25-’26 Season
CELEBRATING AMERICA’S 250TH BIRTHDAY
STAMFORD, CT (July 29, 2025) — In celebration of America’s 250th Birthday, Orchestra Lumos’ 2025-2026 season will pay homage to the American musicians who influenced the musical landscape of this country. In a landmark season finale, titled “America 250”, Orchestra Lumos is proud to present the world premiere of a new commission, Five American Portraits.
The new work, titled “Five American Portraits,” will be premiered in April of 2026, and was commissioned by Orchestra Lumos around a specific and new creative idea. Each of the five participating composers — Christopher Theofanidis, Clarice Assad, Quinn Mason, Nicky Sohn, and Liam Cummins — will bring their unique talents and individual perspectives and experiences to this collaboration. Each composer will write a musical portrait of one person who, in their view, helped shape America into what we are today and contributed to our ongoing American story. This collaboration is noteworthy not only because of the participation of these outstanding five composers, but by the fact that each of their contributions will be linked together cohesively to create a new work greater than the sum of its parts.
“I am enormously thrilled that Orchestra Lumos will spearhead the commission of this creative new work which promises to be the capstone to a season with so much great music,” said Michael Stern, Music Director of Orchestra Lumos. "It is very exciting to me that our community will join us for our America 250 finale at the Palace Theatre in Stamford, CT to share in the thrill of discovering for the first time a notable and major new work that will help us mark this important anniversary in our shared history. I am equally thrilled that all season long, we will also be revisiting some of the most cherished music ever produced here in our country.“
The premiere of Five American Portraits will share the program for the season’s final concerts. In an all-American close celebrating America’s 250th Birthday, Michael Stern will also conduct Three Dance Episodes from Leonard Bernstein’s Broadway hit, On the Town, George Gershwin’s famous masterpiece Rhapsody in Blue with the sensational young American pianist Joshua Mhoon, and Aaron Copland’s beautiful ballet, Appalachian Spring.
For additional concert details, please see below.
Saturday April 18, 2026 at 7:30pm
Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 3:00pm
The Palace Theatre, Stamford
Michael Stern, conductor
Joshua Mhoon, piano
Season subscriptions are available from Orchestra Lumos Patron Services at 203-325-1407 x1.
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About Orchestra Lumos
Formerly known as Stamford Symphony, Orchestra Lumos is the preeminent orchestra serving all of Fairfield County CT. We are expanding in multiple dimensions, bringing more of the music you love throughout Fairfield County. Our mission is to present exceptional musical experiences, from awe-inspiring concerts with world-renowned soloists to family-friendly programs that captivate all ages. We’re also expanding our reach with intimate performances in smaller spaces, hands-on education programs, and community presentations across the county. While our home base is The Palace Theatre in Stamford, you can also experience our music in venues from Rye NY to Bridgeport CT, including local libraries, schools, museums, breweries, places of worship, and community centers. For more information, please visit: www.orchestralumos.org.
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