What does it mean to be an American today? That is the question posed by curator, pianist, and producer Lara Downes in Declaration: Songs of Democracy, Voices of Hope, featuring world premieres by three major composers. Valerie Coleman presents Life, a work for solo piano; Arturo O’Farrill offers Liberty; and Christopher Tin closes with The Pursuit of Happiness. These latter two compositions are performed by the American Composers Orchestra, under the baton of Eric Jacobsen. In addition, Downes has gathered a select collective of artists performing iconic, beloved songs that represent the fullness of the American experience. Her guests include renowned vocalists Kurt Elling, Ekep Nwelle, and Aoife O’Donovan; jazz bassist Christian McBride; versatile singer/songwriter Carrie Rodriguez; breakout bluegrass star Wyatt Ellis; cabaret powerhouse Migguel Anggelo; Late Show bandleader Louis Cato; Tuskegee University’s historic Golden Voices Concert Choir, and more! Featuring Terrance McKnight of WQXR, New York’s Classical Music Radio Station. This performance will feature ASL interpretation and multilingual closed captioning. 

Before and after the show, stop by the Hauser Digital Wall in the David Geffen Hall lobby for a display of video portraits captured during Downes’ travels across America with The Declaration Project.

• Start Date: 06/01/2026
• End Date: 06/01/2026
• Start Time: 7:30pm
• End Time: 9:30pm
• Recurrence: Custom
• Program Cost: Choose-What-You-Pay
• Venue Name: Wu Tsai Theater, David Geffen Hall
• URL: https://www.lincolncenter.org/series/summer-for-the-city/declaration-songs-of-democracy-voices-of-hope-908
• Program Image Description: A woman with brown, wavy hair, wearing a sparkly silver suit, sits in a relaxed pose in front of a grey background.
• Target Audience: Visitors Who Are Deaf | Visitors who use American Sign Language | Visitors with Hearing Loss
• For Accessibility Requests or Questions Please Contact: Access@LincolnCenter.org