This is a relaxed open rehearsal, open to all ages and designed for people with autism, sensory or communication disorders or learning disabilities. To learn more about relaxed performances, visit this page.

Jonathon Heyward, conductor
Abel Selaocoe, cello

William Grant Still Mother and Child
Jessie Montgomery These Righteous Paths (Co-Commission, US Premiere)
Abel Selaocoe, cello
-intermission-
Johannes Brahms Symphony No. 2

Immerse yourself in the expressive power of music in this moving program expressing the enduring power of a mother’s love, across time. William Grant Still’s Mother and Child opens the evening with a tender portrait of love and quiet devotion. The program continues with the U.S. premiere of Jessie Montgomery’s These Righteous Paths, an exploration of the composer’s journey through grief following the loss of her mother five years ago. The co-commission is performed by celebrated cellist Abel Selaocoe. Anchoring the program is Johannes Brahms’s radiant Symphony No. 2, whose warm lyricism—including the beloved melody later known as “Brahms’s Lullaby”—brings the evening to a deeply satisfying close.

What to expect at a Relaxed Open Rehearsal:

– Guests are able to enter and leave the audience space throughout the event, as needed.
– Guests can vocalize or move throughout audience space.
– Fellow audience members are asked to create a no “shushing” zone.
– House lights are adjusted so that venue is never fully dark.
– Attention to bright lights, loud noises, and surprise sensory elements are described in advance.
– Chill Out Space is available for guests to take a break and rejoin the rehearsal when ready.
– A visual guide, with clear instructions, will be shared before event.
– Noise-reducing headphones and fidgets are available to borrow.
– Staff members and artists are trained in access and inclusion best practices.

Please note: This is a working rehearsal, open to an audience to observe. There are no interactive elements.