HEMPY Music Series – Junwen Liang

Echoes Across Horizons: American Voices in Classical Piano: This program celebrates the vast and multifaceted landscape of American classical music through a collection of voices that echo across time, genre, and culture. From the lyrical impressionism of Amy Beach and the spiritual depth of Florence Price, to the cross-cultural energy of Tan Dun and the theatrical elegance of Stephen Hough’s musical theatre transcriptions, these works embody a vibrant conversation between traditions both inherited and reimagined. At the heart of the program is a belief in the power of diversity—musical, cultural, and personal—to enrich the classical tradition. These pieces reflect stories often overlooked: voices of women, immigrants, and composers bridging worlds between concert halls and popular stages. Together, they invite listeners to reconsider what “American music” means, revealing a tapestry that is as rich and resonant as the country itself.