The Music

“...The sparkling and sure-handed music of Peter Boyer...expressed in characteristically exuberant, ingenious orchestration.”

—Steve Metcalf, The Hartford Courant, June 2001

Ellis Island: The Dream of America was commissioned by The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, in celebration of the inaugural season of its Belding Theatre. It was premiered by the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, conducted by the composer, with actors from the New York stage, directed by Martin Charnin, at the Bushnell in April 2002.

The spoken texts for the work come from the Ellis Island Oral History Project, an historic collection of interviews with actual immigrants about their experiences emigrating to America. After extensive research in this archive, Boyer chose the stories of seven immigrants who came to America through Ellis Island from disparate nations between 1910-1940. He fashioned short monologues from the actual words of these immigrants, and wove them into an orchestral tapestry which frames and comments on their stories—by turns poignant, humorous, moving, and inspiring. The work concludes with a reading of the Emma Lazarus poem The New Colossus (“Give me your tired, your poor…”), providing an emotionally powerful ending to this celebration of our nation of immigrants.

For further information, visit Peter Boyer's web site: www.propulsivemusic.com.

For a teacher's guide, click here

To celebrate the Pennsylvania premier of Ellis Island: The Dream of America, the Kennett Symphony sponsored a contest for High School students to tell stories of immigration as essays or PowerPoint Presentations. The Symphony is pleased to announce the winners of this contest.

Essay Contest

First Prize: Alicia B., Huntington Valley, PA view essay

Second Prize: Sushma Kola, Aurora, IL view essay

PowerPoint Contest

First Prize: Joseph Robinson, Newtown Square, PA view PowerPoint

Second Prize: Taylor Thompson, Brookhaven, PA view PowerPoint

Third Prize: Steven Hyland, Avondale, PA view PowerPoint

Honorable Mention: James Corbett, Landenberg, PA view PowerPoint

Congratulations to all the winners. And thanks to all the students who participated, our judges, and contest organizers Karen Markey and Dave Elderkin.

The Concert

THE DREAM OF AMERICA
Saturday, June 21, 2008
7:30 PM
Longwood Gardens Open Air Theater

Heawon Shin, Violin
2007 Instrumental Competition Winner

---

BERNSTEIN    Overture to Candide

GROFE            "On the Trail" from
                            Grand Canyon Suite

ANDERSON    A Centennial Tribute:
                            Phantom Regiment
                            The Typewriter
                            Fiddle-Faddle

BOYER            Ellis Island: The Dream of America

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
Adults: $33   Students: $10
To order, click here or call 610-444-6363

Concert ticket pricing includes admission
to Longwood Gardens for the day

Free Parking

Free fountain show following the concert



Sponsored in part by:


HeLP Fund of the Chester County Community Foundation