The Fall 2023 portion of our “In Harmony” tour celebrates American and Kentucky culture. We start the program reverently with our National Anthem. Next up is Murray, KY’s Chris Thile, on mandolin and vocals performing ATTENTION! A narrative song cycle for extroverted mandolinist and orchestra, co- commissioned by the Louisville Orchestra. Chris Thile, who is called “a genre-defying musical genius” by NPR, offers his own musical take on the American experience. The bluegrass mandolinist behind Punch Brothers and Nickel Creek brings his newly written narrative song cycle that he says tells “the true story of the time I attempted to impress a Starbucks executive and accidentally met Carrie Fisher as a result. It’s a DOOZY!”

And then a popular favorite from the May leg of our tour gets an encore – a work entitled Home by LO Creators Corps member Lisa Bielawa and Hazard native Lindsay Branson which marries fascinatingly the symphonic and traditional bluegrass styles of music. The excitement of the rodeo and cowboy culture is evoked by Aaron Copland’s “Hoe-Down”, the iconic favorite from his suite Rodeo. Our program wraps up with Prokofiev’s buoyant nod to Haydn and Mozart, the Symphony No. 1, nicknamed the “Classical”. You’ll want to encourage an encore on this concert – a hint: it’s a classic Kentucky tune with a new twist from Teddy Abrams that has proven to be an audience favorite on our In Harmony tour.