Drawn to the Music

Drawn to the Music offers a sweeping, cinematic journey across vibrant musical landscapes, blending classic American spirit with rich, lyrical storytelling. The program opens with John William’s rousing **The Cowboys Overture**, a triumphant piece that channels the bold, galloping rhythms of the frontier, brassy fanfares, and an unmistakable heroic spirit that captures the essence of the American West. The narrative then shifts to Alexander Arutunian’s dazzling **Trumpet Concerto**, where soloist Nathan Shower leads the orchestra through a brilliant, dramatic work infused with Armenian color and virtuosic flair, bringing the soloist into the very heart of the music. Finally, the ensemble explores the majestic **Grand Canyon Suite** by Ferde Grofe, expanding the composer’s five pictorial scenes—sunrise, desert stillness, a burro ride, sunset, and storm—into a vivid tableau. Student artists from New Hampshire elementary schools add their youthful interpretation to the canvas, underscoring the orchestra’s power to tell stories, paint landscapes, and evoke adventure, character, motion, and grandeur. With richly colored, immediately engaging sound, warmth, and theatrical immediacy, this film delivers a compelling showcase of orchestral storytelling that invites audiences into an unforgettable, musical wilderness. *(Details & tickets)*