ELLIS ISLAND: THE DREAM OF AMERICA

Peter Boyer’s Grammy-nominated multimedia work for orchestra, Ellis Island: The Dream of America honors the immigrant experience with a compelling combination of music, narration, and historic images. It traces the experiences of seven immigrants from seven countries on their way to America, beginning in the early parts of the past century. The actor’s monologues/narratives are a powerful testament to the experience of thousands of immigrants who entered America through that iconic portal. The text from “Ellis Island” comes from The Ellis Island Oral History Project. By the time the doors were closed in 1954, more than 12 million immigrants had come through. The concert is a timely reminder that, for so many who have come here, America has been a symbol of freedom and opportunity for new life.