The Bird-While - Gala Flagello

Pictures at an Exhibition - Modest Mussorgsky

A powerful program that bridges sound, imagery, and urgent storytelling. Mussorgsky’s iconic Pictures at an Exhibition is brought to life with film, transforming this classic suite into a multi-sensory journey through music and art.

Paired with it is The Bird-While by Gala Flagello, a 2024 Sousa-ABA Ostwald Composition Contest finalist. This striking concerto for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, and winds—based on Keith Taylor’s poem “Acolytes in the Bird-While”—explores the beauty of Michigan’s ecosystems and the human struggle to persist in the face of climate change. Featuring guest soloists from "The President's Own" United States Marine Band, this performance brings extraordinary artistry to a message of environmental urgency.