On the 6-year anniversary of the premiere of this, my first major orchestral composition, I find myself thinking about my family of immigrants more than ever. Having been born in the United States, I’ve always thought of myself as an American, but with a father who emigrated in childhood, and a mother whose family came to this country to build a new life shortly before her birth, I’ve begun to feel a deeper connection with the experiences of my elders and the millions of families who are currently adjusting to life in this country. I also find myself reflecting on the reality that nothing is guaranteed in this country – not now, especially – for anyone trying to build a life of happiness and security for their family. What I still love about this little fanfare, however, is that despite the tumultuous and disturbing opening bars, most of the 6-minute piece focuses on hope, compassion, and tenderness. Those are the things I choose to focus on every day.
Reflecting on the daily struggles and triumphs of immigrants – like my family on both sides – transitioning to life in this country, I imagined the fears, hopes, and dreams of an imaginary child I called Rosa while composing this piece. In 2022, the Wichita Symphony Orchestra (www.wichitasymphony.org) under the direction of my friend and colleague Daniel Hege gave this powerful yet tender performance of my “Fanfare for Rosa”. This piece is very special to me as it started me off on my journey of orchestral composition with a fiery premiere in 2018 by the Chattanooga Symphony under the direction of Kayoko Dan, who commissioned it! The music is based on interviews I conducted with migrant children in the United States who recalled experiences often tinged with terror and trauma upon entering the United States from South and Central America for the first time. However, this fanfare develops in strength and optimism over the course of its six minutes to a hope-filled response to the immigrant crisis. I’m grateful to all of the ensembles who have played it, since, and to my little family of immigrants who gave me such a beautiful life in this country. the premiere took place in 2018 by the Chattanooga Symphony with Kayoko Dan leading the orchestra that commissioned it. I’m forever grateful to these two orchestras as well as the others who have performed it again and again since its premiere.