Civitas Ensemble holds a very special place in my heart as one of my favorite chamber groups of all time. Consisting of members Yuan-Qing Yu, Kenneth Olsen, and Lawrie Bloom, each holding prominent chairs in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and my longtime collaborator, pianist Winston Choi, this ensemble delivers deeply moving performances every time they take the stage. I’m honored to create a new work for them in celebration of their outgoing board chair, Judith McCue.
The inspiration for this piece emerged during the early months of the pandemic, as our conversations turned toward the role of music in processing shared experience. Those dialogues with Judy and the group have been profoundly shaping, forming what I hope will become a lasting expression of empathy and renewal.