Jocelyn Hagen, Susanna Phillips and Mozart

HERE I AM

In partnership with Tucson Desert Song Festival

Jan. 27–29, 2023

True Concord Choir and Soloists | Orchestra | Tucson Girls Chorus, Marcela Molina, director

Out of This World Talent

Featuring illuminated portraits and the words of 47 different women from across the world and across time, this work tells the story of the importance of finding, and using, your voice.

Metropolitan Opera favorite, acclaimed recitalist and opera superstar soprano Susanna Phillips sings the ethereal Exsultate, jubilate by Mozart and the long-awaited and much-anticipated world premiere of Here I Am by Jocelyn Hagen.

Hagen’s work uses quotations and poems by women authors, activists, world leaders, and historical figures. At the end of the work, the orchestra and male voices go silent and the voices of women and girls sing on into the future. See the Here I Am portraits at Hotel Congress in January 2023.

Here I Am is ultimately a message of hope.
“Hope that now and in the future women will continue to come forward, to speak up, speak out and to tell their stories. And that the act of telling their stories provides empowerment.”
—Jocelyn Hagen

Bursting with innovation, this program premieres the winning work of the 5th annual Stephen Paulus Emerging Composers Competition. Also included is music by or inspired by African Americans and Native Americans, reflecting the diverse voices that are America’s cultural mosaic.

“True Concord has created something truly spectacular!” —Arizona Daily Star