La Jolla Symphony & Chorus reflects on turning points in American history, featuring San Diego Children’s Choir and guest conductor Michael Gerdes

La Jolla Symphony & Chorus reflects on turning points in American history, featuring San Diego Children’s Choir and guest conductor Michael Gerdes 

March 3, 2025 – San Diego, CA – The La Jolla Symphony & Chorus returns to Mandeville Auditorium March 15 and 16 with guest conductor Michael Gerdes leading a powerful program called “Transmigration.” 

The program will open with METACOSMOS, written by composer Anna Thorvaldsdottir. Originally from Iceland, Thorvaldsdottir holds a PhD from UC San Diego. Thorvaldsdottir’s piece will be followed by Lyric for Strings by George Walker, then The Montgomery Variations by Margaret Bonds. 

Bond’s moving piece was written in response to the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham in September 1963, a terrorist act that killed four young girls during the height of the civil rights movement. 

"Margaret Bonds' The Montgomery Variations is a profound and deeply moving work that captures the resilience, struggle, and hope of the Civil Rights Movement,” said executive director Stephanie Weaver. “Her music speaks across generations, reminding us of the power of art to inspire change and honor history. We are proud to bring this remarkable composition to our audiences."

This piece will stand in conversation with another work about a pivotal turning point in United States history. The San Diego Children’s Choir will join LJS&C on stage to perform the program’s final piece, John Adams’ On the Transmigration of Souls, a sweeping piece written in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks.

“Collaborating with the LJS&C is an honor, particularly to be included in the San Diego premier of such an impactful work,” said Ruthie Millgard, Artistic Director of San Diego Children's Choir. “San Diego Children's Choir singers are embracing the musical challenge of this meaty 21st century composition, but more importantly they are experiencing more intensely than ever before the role music can play in healing from tragedy and loss.”

Music director and chorus conductor Arian Khaefi called the Adams piece one of the most powerful and important works of music of the 21st century.

“It's difficult to even call this a piece of music—written in response to the September 11 attacks, the piece stands as a contemplation of the events of that day,” Khaefi said.

“Transmigration” will be performed March 15-16. Ticket holders can come early for a free pre-concert lecture 30 minutes before each concert. Tickets are available now and can be purchased by visiting www.ljsc.org.

The symphony & chorus will also open its doors for an open dress rehearsal of “Transmigration” on Friday, March 14 at 7 p.m. This family-friendly event is not ticketed, and is free for the public.

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Performance Details:

Transmigration

Saturday, March 15 at 7:30 pm

Sunday, March 16 at 2:00 pm 

UC San Diego Mandeville Auditorium | San Diego, CA

Tickets: $20-45 

Link: https://www.ljsc.org/transmigration/

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About La Jolla Symphony & Chorus:

La Jolla Symphony & Chorus (LJS&C), a UCSD affiliate, is a nonprofit comprised of 230 volunteer musicians from all walks of life, including doctors, lawyers, teachers, students, and professional musicians. LJS&C is helmed by executive director Stephanie Weaver Yankee and chorus director Arian Khaefi. The organization sponsors an annual Young Artists Competition, an annual commission of a new work, and provides music education to San Diego K-12 schools.

About San Diego Children’s Choir: 

Since 1990, the San Diego Children’s Choir (SDCC) has been a leader in choral training for young voices, serving over 2,000 children annually. As the region’s oldest and largest choral music education program, SDCC nurtures artistic and personal growth through high-quality instruction and transformative performance opportunities. SDCC programs include introductory music classes for children ages 1-6 and an ensemble program for choristers in grades 1-12. Choristers progress through age- and skill-based levels, exploring a diverse repertoire that spans cultures, languages, and historical periods—from medieval to modern, classical to folk, and spirituals. SDCC is committed to making music education accessible to all children.