Over 150 Musicians Unite in a Powerful Call for Peace
“The coolest collab concert of the season” features over 150 musicians—including five choirs—Uniting in a powerful call for peace showcasing works by Bonds, Shaw, and Vaughan Williams
“We invite all to join us for this weekend of performances, where this powerful music will inspire hope and collective action.”
FEB 12, 2025 - On Saturday, March 15 and Sunday, March 16 the newly renamed Orchestra Nova Northwest joins the award-winning Resonance Ensemble for RESONANCE NOVA—hailed as “the coolest collab concert of the season” (Oregon Live).
Adding to the more than 100 musicians already taking the stage, singers from two additional choirs have joined the roster, bringing even greater power to this call for peace, resilience, and justice.
Inspired by struggles for justice and peace, the program features three groundbreaking works by acclaimed composers Margaret Bonds, Caroline Shaw, and Ralph Vaughan Williams. Conducted by Steven Byess, Katherine FitzGibbon, and Shohei Kobayashi, over 150 musicians join forces from six ensembles: Resonance Ensemble, Orchestra Nova Northwest, Lewis & Clark College’s Cappella Nova, Reed College’s Collegium Musicum, and, most recently, invited singers from the Portland Phoenix Chamber Choir and the Choral Arts Ensemble of Portland.
Conductors Shohei Kobayashi, Katherine FitzGibbon, and Steven Byess during a recent site visit at the Reser.
“These three works not only call for peace in our world, but urge each of us to be a force for peace, justice, and empathy in our own communities,” shares Resonance Ensemble’s Artistic Director Katherine FitzGibbon. “We invite all to join us for this weekend of performances, where this powerful music will inspire hope and collective action.”
The first half of the program features Caroline Shaw’s haunting work To the Hands, amplifying contemporary refugee crises, and Margaret Bonds’s Credo, setting a stirring text by W.E.B. Du Bois. The program concludes with Ralph Vaughan Williams’s Dona Nobis Pacem (Latin for “grant us peace”)—a powerful work for chorus, orchestra, and soloists Nicole Greenidge Joseph (soprano) and Wayne Arthur (baritone).
Written as a plea for peace amid the aftermath of past wars and the looming threat of new ones, the combined forces of five choirs and full orchestra will create an unforgettable and moving musical experience.
“We believe this program holds deep significance for our region’s communities,” shares Kevin Irving. “That’s why we’ve chosen to bring this powerful performance to both sides of the Willamette, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to experience its message of unity and hope.”
Single tickets on sale through Orchestra Nova Northwest and the Reser. Tickets start at $35 with discounted tickets for students and Arts for All. For more information, visit resonancechoral.org and novanw.org.
Resonance Ensemble and Orchestra Nova Northwest Present: RESONANCE NOVA
WHEN & WHERE
Saturday, March 15th | 7:30 pm | Reynolds High School (Troutdale)
Sunday, March 16th | 3:00 pm | Patricia Reser Center for the Arts (Beaverton)
COST
Single tickets on sale through Orchestra Nova Northwest and the Reser.
Tickets start at $35 with discounted tickets for students and Arts for All.
Note to Journalists: Katherine FitzGibbon, Shohei Kobayashi, Kevin Irving, Steven Byess, and featured guests are available for print, online, and broadcast interviews. If you would like more information on our season or would like to schedule an interview, please contact Liz Bacon Brownson at liz@ohcreativepdx.com or by calling 971-212-8034.
