By taking a brief glance at the Music Department’s events for the spring 2026 semester, one will notice a lengthy series of concerts throughout the entire semester, attributed to our nation's history. This year, the Music Department has successfully launched a concert series entitled USA 250, which lifts up and informs the greater Orange County community of our nation's founding documents and its rich history. 

Dr. Jo Ellen Chatham, Director of Concordia’s Center for Civic Education, worked closely with Dr. Jeff Held, Assistant Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and Director of Orchestral Activities, to create a musical series that emphasized the importance of our own history and our continued efforts towards progress. 

“Americans are very ignorant of our own history… The Declaration of Independence changed the world. It came up with this idea that all men are created equal,” said Chatham. She added that “USA 250 states that America is the perfect ideal, but the United States of America is a work in progress.” 

The USA 250 concerts offer an increasingly meaningful experience for the audience member as the art becomes a means of education. “I think memorializing in music our nation's history is not only entertaining, but it is informative and inspiring,” added Chatham. 

Beginning in February, the Music Department held a series of concerts at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, celebrating the composers of the Great American Songbook, such as John Philip Sousa, and Rodgers and Hammerstein.

As the series continues, concerts have included works from all three choirs at Concordia, the Concordia Wind Orchestra and Symphony, select student ensembles and soloists and the Laudamus choir from Concordia Seminary in Saint Louis. Notably, on March 15, the Concordia Wind Orchestra, The Concordia Choir and Laudamus gave a concert in the stately East Room of the Nixon Presidential Library. This particular concert included arrangements of “My Country 'Tis of Thee”, “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and an arrangement of the text of the Declaration of Independence. 

However, just as our nation's progress is not over, neither are the efforts behind USA 250 and concerts celebrating America. On April 18, the annual Concordia Masterworks concert will celebrate works by notable American composers, Aaron Copland, R. Nathaniel Dett and Morten Lauridsen. Entitled “American Anthems,” the concert will bring the diverse works of these composers to life with the Concordia Choir, The Master Chorale and the Master Works Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Michael Busch. “American Anthems” will be held at the Soka University Performing Arts Center on April 18 at 3 p.m. To purchase tickets and receive more information on the concert, please visit https://www.simpletix.com/e/concordia-masterworks-2026-american-anthem-tickets-233024 

The Music Department’s efforts to educate the greater community about our nation's history will continue into the New York City Carnegie Hall Tour in May. “On May 9, 2026, 100 Concordia musicians will be on stage at Carnegie Hall. The Concert Handbells, Concordia Choir, Sinfonietta and Concordia Brass will be presenting “Inscriptions,” a new major work by Dr. Christian Guebert '10.  Our hour-long performance will be the culmination of Concordia's USA 250 Festival in the spring semester,” said Dr. Jeff Held. Serving as the grand finale of the USA 250 series, Concordia will share the work of its own composers in one of the most respected performance halls in the United States. 

As the Music Department continues to partake in the USA 250 festival, students and faculty are encouraged to celebrate the anniversary of our country and familiarize themselves with our nation's founding documents and our rich history. For more information on USA 250 please visit https://www.usa250-oc.com/ or connect with Concordia’s Center of Civic Education by contacting Dr. Jo Ellen Chatham at joellen.chatham@cui.edu. 

Tags: music, choir, Men's Chorus, Women's Chorus

---

About Rebekah Michel

More articles by Rebekah Michel