“Rivers and Roots” explores how music, like water, flows across borders and generations — absorbing influences, reshaping cultures, and nourishing new creative growth. Each work on this program draws from a source — a river of sound, memory, or tradition — that feeds into a broader musical landscape.

From the rustic dances of 17th-century Hungary to the jazz-infused banks of the Mississippi Delta, this concert traces a journey through the tributaries of European and American musical heritage. What begins as folk expression becomes formalized art; what once sounded in royal courts resurfaces in smoky jazz clubs — and through it all, the human impulse to dance, to grieve, and to celebrate remains constant.

Our concert will be held on the 11th floor of the Arizona Center, giving audience members the opportunity to listen while experiencing the sights of the greater Phoenix landscape during the concert. More information regarding parking and step-by-step directions to the performance venue are upcoming.

Repertoire:

Ferenc Farkas – Early Hungarian Dances from the 17th Century

Igor Stravinsky – Pulcinella Suite

Jim Parker – Mississippi Five

Valerie Coleman – Red Clay and Mississippi Delta

Tickets are available for purchase online.