The Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra's California Compositions, is an ambitious multi-year project to celebrate the state’s greatest achievers – in the arts and other fields – by commissioning new works of music in their honor and premiering them in the Sacramento area.

The initiative also presents works by composers who lived or currently reside in the Golden State. 

 

The first of these commissioned works was by composer André Previn and honored internationally-acclaimed Sacramento painter Wayne Thiebaud.  The work premiered on October 14, 2006 at the Sacramento Community Center Theater.  The second project, Gold Mountain, was a tribute to Chinese Americans,  It featured new works by Jon Jang and Gang Situ, and premiered in January and April of 2007, respectively. 

 

The 2008/2009 Season features Ansel Adams: America, a new multimedia work in tribute to the cherished American Photographer Ansel Adams, composed by the widely acclaimed father and son team of Jazz great Dave Brubeck and his son Christopher.  This project is in collaboration with the Stockton Symphony.  The Sacramento premiere is Saturday, April 11, 2009 at the Sacramento Community Center Theater.

 

In addition, the November 1, 2008 concert features the World Premiere of a commissioned work by California composer Kurt Erickson.  Chicago Songs is inspired and incorporates poems by the great American poet Carl Sandburg.  The work features guest artist Marnie Breckinridge.

 

Special thanks to the following sponsors.