My introduction of a concert of piano music performed by New England Conservatory students on April 14, 2026 in Jordan Hall, Boston.
This concert is part of two large projects: Mass250 (that’s Massachusetts 250), and America250. Both of these are many-part celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
The students playing tonight were chosen through a competition. Any piano piece by an American composer could be played. And we had music from the 18th century all the way to the 21st.
We hold these truths to be self-evident: The pieces you will hear are widely diverse, in musical styles, in their differing approaches to beauty and truth. It turned out that many of the chosen pieces represent the history of this school as well. Music by Chadwick, and Price, Lee Hyla, Donald Martino, Schuller, all musicians who studied here, or taught here. Even Mrs. Beach was involved with NEC.
Let’s take a moment to thank the family members who support this concert in honor of Marion Berman. We are very grateful for your long support.
We will be hearing music tonight that represents the U.S. in past decades and centuries. It might be a good omen that can offer us hope for the future. I do not know what music will be written tomorrow. I believe that artists will continue to tell an American story. That the American dream, American ideals, the American promise shall not perish from the earth. And the sounds, the music of the United.States will continue to resonate, to ring out in this room.
Jordan Hall, Boston, April 14, 2026
Donald Martino: Piano Fantasy (1959)
Amy Beach: Valse-Caprice, op. 4 (1889)
Leon Kirchner: Interlude II (2003)
George Walker: Piano Sonata No. 1 (1953)
George Whitefield Chadwick: Les Grenouilles (Humoresque) (ca. 1905)
Lee Hyla: Basic Training (1999)
Gunther Schuller: Sonata-Fantasia (1992)
Florence Price: Clouds (1940)
Samuel Barber: Sonata, op. 26 (1947-49)
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