Program Note
When considering a text for a choral work that speaks to redefining America as a place grounded in love and acceptance, it is hard not to turn to The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus. The poem, inscribed on a plaque inside the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty, commemorates the statue’s purpose as a symbol of welcome for immigrants to the United States. Reflecting on my own ancestors and the world we live in today, it seems clear to me that all Americans are immigrants, regardless of race, creed, color, or identity. I long for a world in which we affirm our shared humanity not through division, but through diversity, common ideals, and a generosity of spirit.
Instrumentation
SATB Choir with Occasional Divisi (SSATBB)
Premiere
Vocalis Chamber Choir, James Burritt, Music Director and Conductor Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Buffalo, NY, USA May 15 & 17, 2026
Duration: ca. 6'00"
The New Colossus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. “Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
– Emma Lazarus
This poem is in the public domain.
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