Sunday, May 24, 2026  8:30 PM

Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall, New York

https://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2026/05/24/New-England-Symphonic-Ensemble-0830PM

The New England Symphonic Ensemble presents contemporary American choral music focused on poetry and imagination. Jennifer Rodgers conducts Joan Szymko’s It Is Happiness, a rare choral setting of three poems by Mary Oliver (“The Summer Day,” “Sunrise,” and “Wild Geese”). The program also features the world premiere of The Lips of the Sky by Giselle Wyers, conducted by the composer, alongside works by Rosephanye Powell and Kevin T. Padworski, led by Emily Crile.

JOAN SZYMKO It Is Happiness

Jennifer Rodgers, Conductor

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Participating Choruses:

Iowa State Cantamus and Lyrica Ensembles, Ames, IA (Jennifer Rodgers, Director)

Capital City Chorale, Olympia, WA (Vicki Jardine-Tobin, Director)

Bella Voce, Reno, NV (Jennifer Tibben, Director)

Damonte Ranch High School Choir, Reno, NV (Jennifer Tibben, Director)
McQueen High School Choir, Reno, NV  (Kimberly Li, Director)

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GISELLE WYERS The Lips of the Sky (World Premiere)

Giselle Wyers, Conductor

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Participating Choruses:

University of Washington Chorale, Seattle, WA (Giselle Wyers, Director)

Concord Chamber Choir, Bothell, WA (Giselle Wyers, Director)

Boise Philharmonic Master Chorale, Boise, ID (Richard Hutton, Director)

Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Boise, ID (Carrie Bastian, Director)

ROSEPHANYE POWELL I Dream a World & To Sit and Dream

KEVIN T. PADWORSKI When Dreams Fly (World Premiere)

Emily Crile, Conductor

Participating Choruses:

Colorado Children's Chorale, Denver, CO (Emily Crile, Director)

The Children's Choir of New Jersey, Summit, NJ (Candace Wicke, Director)

ChildrenSong of New Jersey, Haddonfield, NJ (Polly Murray, Director)