Declaration: Songs of Democracy, Voices of Hope
ROLE: Projection Designer, Scenic Designer, Installation Artist
Venue: Lincoln Center, David Geffen Hall
Premier: July 1, 2026
CREDITS:
Curator, pianist, producer lara downes . conductor eric Jacobsen . performing orchestra American Composers Orchestra . composer valerie coleman (life) . composer arturo o’farrill (liberty) . composer christopher tin (the pursuit of happiness) . projection and sceic design by katherine freer . directed by james blaszko . sound design by rick jacobsohn . lighting design by christopher gilmore
CONCERT DESCRIPTION:
What does it mean to be an American today? That is the question posed by curator, pianist, and producer Lara Downes in Declaration: Songs of Democracy, Voices of Hope, featuring world premieres by three major composers. Valerie Coleman presents Life, a work for solo piano; Arturo O'Farrill offers Liberty; and Christopher Tin closes with The Pursuit of Happiness. These latter two compositions are performed by the American Composers Orchestra, under the baton of Eric Jacobsen. In addition, Downes has gathered a select collective of artists performing iconic, beloved songs that represent the fullness of the American experience. Her guests include renowned vocalists Ekep Nkwelle and Aoife O’Donovan; jazz bassist Christian McBride; versatile singer/songwriter Carrie Rodriguez; breakout bluegrass star Wyatt Ellis; cabaret powerhouse Migguel Anggelo; Late Show bandleader Louis Cato; Tuskegee University’s historic Golden Voices Concert Choir, and more! Featuring Terrance McKnight of WQXR, New York's Classical Music Radio Station.
Full Production Recording
Act 1
Act 2
As partner to the concert, the Hauser Digital Wall hosted an interactive multimedia installation that ran throughout Summer in the City.
Declaration: A Collective Wish for the Next 250 Years
Across this land, people are collectively reflecting on the past, present, and future of the United States and what it means to be a member of this society. With this in mind, Lara Downes traveled across the nation collecting photographs and responses to the following prompts:What does “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” mean to you?What does it mean to be American today?What is your wish for the next 250 years?
What manifested was a collective voice and call for the future. One of hope, compassion, and liberty. In This interactive installation is a generative quilt of images from Lara’s journey as well as participants from across the Lincoln Center community. As you approach the wall, your presence activates pathways to access oral testimonials, reflections, and calls to actions. Scan the QR code and listen with ann open heart and mind. Take what you will forward into the next 250 years.
Additional TouchDesigner Programming by AJ Hurtado and Colin Hoy
Assistant Designer Nitsan Scharf
Concert Pre-Visualization
Due to the extremely tight load in and tech period (one day to load in, tech and dress the day of the performance) it was critical that the entire team was informed of and approved the video content, which was the primary visual thread throughout the concert. I worked closely with the director and producer to refine the edited video elements that introduced each section and the content that served as the background world for each musical section.
