What does America sound like? Surely it’s the sound of Rock n Roll…and Blues…and Jazz.
But then there’s Bluegrass and Folk. And Tin Pan Alley. And Pop. And Hip Hop.
It’s not easy to capture what America sounds like. Our music is as diverse as our country is, with musical artists in every genre finding a way to express the lived experiences of everyday Americans.
In the world of Classical music, composers of the twentieth century began to create a body of work that sounded like American Classical music. Now in this twenty-first century, composers have expanded just what that means, making use of the many genres of music that help define America in sound.
As we continue to celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary in 2026, the Granite offers a series of four chamber concerts, America: A Portrait in Sound, that dive into the ways American classical music first emerged and continues to evolve.
America: A Portrait in Sound begins on Sunday, September 27 with a concert by Quantum Collective, who offer a program entitled Each Melodious Measure. This concert features a diverse range of works from Connecticut-based composers. Works by Charles Ives, Dave Brubeck, Gwyneth Walker, Marc Chan, and others celebrate the diverse strains inherent in American music.
On October 18, Ridgefield Symphony’s Maestro, Eric Mahl, and Soprano Sarah Joyce Cooper shine a spotlight on The Songs of America. The repertoire Eric and Sarah Joyce have selected will traverse wide geographies and eras to reveal how composers have used texts and lyrics to express the American experience.
On November 8, we turn to an extraordinary project initiated by New York-based pianist Min Kwon. America/Beautiful is a collection of variations of the iconic song, America the Beautiful, penned by 76 of today’s leading composers and all commissioned by Min Kwon. The program of variations she selects for our afternoon together promises to be a fascinating dive into the complexity and beauty of our country.
Our series concludes with Write it Down or Improvise? Jazz Meets Classical. Join us as we present both a classical piano trio and a jazz piano trio playing the music of Dave Brubeck, Horace Silver, Gerry Mulligan, Leonard Bernstein, Joan Tower, and other American composers. Featuring the David Morgan Trio and Andrew Levine, Lana Auerbach, and Miriam Liske Doorandish.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andrew Levine, our Resident Artist for classical music, has enjoyed a multifaceted career in the performing arts, working as a musician, arts administrator, educator, and producer.
Andrew served as managing director of The Sheen Center for Thought & Culture, and as the executive director of The York Theatre Company. Currently, he is an adjunct faculty member at Western Connecticut State University, where he teaches theater management, and The Hartt School at the University of Hartford, where he is an on-staff coach in the musical theater division.
At The Granite, Andrew curates, produces, and performs concerts and activities within the classical music, cabaret, and musical theater worlds.
Thank you to all who attended, supported, and helped create Grashow at the Granite: The Cathedral. Special thanks to all of our volunteers for making this event run smoothly, the incomparable Jen Wastrom, our friends at InSitu, and of course, Jimmy and Guzzy Grashow.
There’s still time to see Jimmy’s masterpieces! The Grashow exhibit, now titled Grashow at the Granite: Jimmy’s World (and excluding The Cathedral), will remain at The Granite and open to the public until October 19th. For complete gallery hours, please 
Our architectural team, Carl Rothbart & Rose Long at Architectural Preservation Studio, recently completed a conditions assessment, and the good news is that the building is in better shape than originally thought! While this is exciting, the building still needs about $3 million in historic rehabilitation and building infrastructure.
We’ve hosted a series of Creative Conversation gatherings, which have evolved into our Creative Advisory Committee! These meetings have been popular with local creatives looking to strengthen the arts community and shape programming at the Granite. We now have artist advisors for music, visual arts, theater, and dance and are grateful to members of the community for showing such strong interest. If you would like to participate, please reach out.
SpreadMusicNow, Inc. is a volunteer-led 501(c)(3) public charity that supports music education, creative youth development, and artistic expression. In 2023, SpreadMusicNow began managing the Granite Church and is responsible for handling all donations. 100% of your donation goes to the Granite Church. All donations are tax-deductible. EIN: 83-0713289.
