Program
Gabriela Lena FrankElegia Andina
Aaron CoplandAppalachian Spring
Gabriela Lena FrankEscaramuza
Mark O’ConnorSong of the Liberty Bell for Violin and String Orchestra
Mark O’ConnorStrings & Threads Suite for Violin and String Orchestra
Performances
Weill Hall, Green Music Center
Friday, August 7, 2026 | 7:30 pm
Tickets on sale Monday, May 18, 2026
About the Concert
Violinists Mark O’Connor and Maggie O’Connor return to Santa Rosa with music that bridges concert hall tradition and the roots of American sound. Their works Song of the Liberty Bell and Strings & Threads Suite blend classical form with folk melodies and virtuosic fiddling, creating a vibrant, living expression of American music.
At the heart of the program is Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring, a landmark of the American repertoire. Premiered in 1944 for Martha Graham, the score captures a sense of optimism and renewal, culminating in the beloved Shaker tune “Simple Gifts.”
Woven throughout the concert are two striking works by Gabriela Lena Frank Elegía Andina and Escaramuza—which draw on Latin American influences to expand and enrich the idea of what “American” music can be.
From Appalachian landscapes to Andean echoes, this program traces a musical journey shaped by tradition, migration, and reinvention—an evolving portrait of a nation in sound.
Concert Conversations with Francesco Lecce-Chong
Concert Conversations are general seating and free to Classical Series concert ticket holders. Approximately 30 minutes in Weill Hall.
Tickets
Tickets on sale Monday, May 18, 2026 at 10:00 am
$34 – $110. Reserved seating.
$10 student rush tickets for college students with a valid student ID. Available starting 1-1/2 hours prior to the concert, at the door only. Classical Series concerts only.
Youths 7-17 years of age may receive one complimentary ticket with every paid adult. Request tickets through Patron Services at (707) 546-8742.
We gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions from the following:
Concert sponsored by Jamei Haswell and Mack Schwing
Conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong sponsored by David and Corinne Byrd
Guest Artists Mark and Maggie O’Connor sponsored by The Stare Foundation and Lee and Dave Stare of Dry Creek Vineyard
Programs, dates, artists, and prices are subject to change without notice. Tickets are subject to availability. All tickets are nonrefundable.
Only children ages seven years and older will be allowed into the concert hall.