Spring 2026- Sing Democracy 250

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The spring concert series matinees will be at 3PM, May  2nd at Exeter High School and 3rd at Christ Church Exeter 2026, 

“Sing Democracy 250,” will commemorate the nation’s anniversary with a program of works by American composers. The concert showcases two major works in their New Hampshire premieres—Us by Michael Bussewitz-Quarm and Redeem the Dream by Brandon A. Boyd, accompanied by a chamber orchestra.

“ 'Sing Democracy 250' celebrates how coming together in song helps us understand who we are as a nation. Through this music, we honor the ideals of participation, resilience, and hope that continue to shape our shared story,” 

Jason Throne, Artistic Director.

Sing Democracy 250 aims to ignite a nationwide movement. From every state in this nation, the power of song will ring out in 2026, a symphony of unity and hope, echoing the words of the Declaration of Independence.

High school, college and community choirs from every state are joining together  to lend their voices to the cause and carry the torch of democracy forward through a specially-designed music program.

Beginning with the world premiere of this new music in 2025 in Philadelphia, anchored by the Together In Hope Choir, we will connect Americans to our history and the promise of our democracy.

But our journey doesn't end there.

We want to inspire the future, to cultivate a new generation of citizens who embrace their responsibilities and believe in the transformative potential of democracy.

Today, the viability of democracy faces unprecedented threats.  Global freedom is under attack, both by rising autocracies and major global democracies faltering from within.

In this pivotal moment, we, as Americans, must show that our democracy can and will endure, inspire, and progress.

Together, we will Sing Democracy 250 - a movement of resilience, a chorus of hope, and a celebration of the values that define us as Americans.

Music is a universal language, one that transcends cultural and political boundaries and can unite people of different backgrounds. Throughout history, music has played a crucial role in social movements. From protest songs to anthems of solidarity, music has been used to express dissent, promote unity, and inspire change.  Music has the power to connect people and create a stronger community. 

It is our hope that Sing Democracy 250 will inspire Americans to do their part to strengthen this democracy. Democracy depends on all of us.  We, the people, are the key. This is our time to fulfill democracy’s promise.

“Redeem the Dream” is based on Langston Hughes’s poem “Let America Be America Again,” written in 1935. The poem reflects on the gap between the ideals of American democracy as articulated in the Declaration of Independence and the reality experienced by many people over our history. Yet the poem ends with hope that America can live up to its promises of freedom, equality, and opportunity for all. The poet affirms that we the people can and will redeem the vision of America and make America what it is intended to be. Hughes’s poem is introduced by words of the Declaration of Independence.

“US” was inspired by Richard Haass’s book The Bill of Obligations, published in 2023, a bold call for Americans to adopt the habits of good citizenship. Haass asserts that most Americans understand far more about their rights than they do about their obligations as citizens. To keep our democracy strong, we must adopt these obligations as habits of citizenship. Through the music, we introduce the challenge and the hope of democracy’s promise. We then name 10 obligations and define each one through quotations by famous and not-so-famous Americans, from founding fathers to contemporary citizens. The piece concludes with a call to citizenship, for US—we the people, each one of us in these United States—to join together and make the full promise of our democracy a reality.

 These concerts will also include “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing”