Sounding the Nation
at 250
A project of the Society for American Music
EVENTS
Upcoming Events
A Time for JubileeMon, Feb 09Davis Theatre for Performing Arts
Mountaineering Voices: Appalachian Primitive Baptists and Congregational Singing in West VirginiaSat, Apr 11Monongalia Arts Center
Documenting Punk and Go-go in the Nation’s CapitalSat, May 09Malcolm X Park
Cincinnati Sounds: Exploring a City's Spaces, Places, and SoundsSat, May 09Cincinnati Public Library
Tyler, The Creator's Hip Hop Revolution: Beyond GangstaFri, May 29Ann Arbor Public Library
From Irish American Vaudevillian to Broadway’s Yankee Doodle Dandy: George M. Cohan and His BroadwaySun, Jun 14First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City
Theatre Organ: The Sound of American EntertainmentSat, Jul 18Strand Theatre
“For our Kentucky Audiences:” Scenes from the Life of Mary Todd Lincoln in a Centennial OperaFri, Sep 25Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center
CELEBRATING OUR MUSICAL
LEGACY in 2026
Our Mission
Sponsored by the Society for American Music (SAM), Sounding the Nation at 250 is an outreach initiative marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. From Morgantown to Montgomery, Los Angeles to Lawrence, and Tallahassee to Tuscaloosa, this project will celebrate the nation’s diverse musical and artistic legacies with public lectures, recitals, and exhibits, engaging broad audiences with research on American music. Video recordings of all events will be archived on this website.
SAM 250 Committee
Dana Gorzelany-Mostak, Professor of Music, Georgia College & State University
Andrew Granade, Professor of Musicology and Associate Dean of Academic and Faculty
Affairs, UMKC Conservatory
Samantha Lampe, Ph.D. Candidate, Musicology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Megan MacDonald, Executive Director, Society for American Music
Howard Pollack, John and Rebecca Moores Professor of Music, University of Houston
Dwandalyn Reece, Curator of Music and Performing Arts, Smithsonian Institution National
Museum of African American History and Culture
PROJECTS
Lectures
Public lectures on American music will take place at historic and community spaces, designed to enlighten and engage audiences with rich histories and diverse narratives.
Recitals
Performances at concert halls, universities, and libraries will showcase local artists and musicians, highlighting a rich tapestry of sounds and celebrating diverse cultural backgrounds through music.
Exhibits
Exhibits at public parks will feature artifacts, photographs, and multimedia presentations that illuminate the evolution and impact of American music.