The National Symphony Orchestra will play one of 麻豆原创 Professor Stella Sung’s compositions at a Labor Day concert to be broadcast from the U.S. Capitol lawn.
John Morris Russell, guest conductor for the NSO and conductor of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, selected The Peace Corps from Sung鈥檚 Rockwell Reflections collection to play at the annual event.
鈥淚t just feels so amazing to finally have that dream come true,鈥� said Sung, who also is director of the Center for Research and Education in Arts, Technology and Entertainment (CREATE) at the university鈥檚 downtown Center for Emerging Media.
Sung wrote the Rockwell Reflections collection for the Orlando Philharmonic in 2007. At that time, a collection of paintings by artist Norman Rockwell was touring the country and Sung became so inspired she created orchestral pieces for five of his works.
The Peace Corps was the final composition in the set and inspired by a painting of President John F. Kennedy with a group of the organization鈥檚 volunteers.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a very inspiring illustration, it just personifies that really wonderful American spirit and hope and service because that鈥檚 what the Peace Corps was all about,鈥� Sung said. 鈥淭his piece is reflective of those Peace Corps feelings.鈥�
Russell said Sung鈥檚 composition was inspiring.
鈥淚t has the grand, open sonorities reminiscent of Copland, an epic scope worthy of John Williams, capped by a beloved melody by Irving Berlin,鈥� Russell said. 鈥淚t is as American as apple pie: inspirational and stirring.
Sung鈥檚 music has been played all around the world by a multitude of different orchestras such as the German Ministry of Culture, the Dayton (Ohio) Philharmonic Orchestra, the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and others.
鈥淚 really am forever indebted to all the other orchestras, the youth orchestras, the university orchestras, regional orchestras, that have played my music,鈥� Sung said. 鈥淚 owe a debt of gratitude to all my colleagues and musicians because you can鈥檛 start with major orchestras. You build and have those years of support and it has finally come to fruition.
鈥淭his is one of my favorite pieces. Even if it doesn鈥檛 get played by another orchestra, I鈥檒l be really happy with how everything turned out.鈥�