Orlando Sings Will Bring THREADS OF FREEDOM Choral Festival to Dr. Phillips Center
The 5th annual festival features Andrea Ramsey's SUFFRAGE CANTATA and 250 singers at Steinmetz Hall
Orlando Sings will present the fifth annual Orlando Sings Choral Festival, themed Threads of Freedom, a three-concert exploration of humanity's enduring pursuit of liberty and freedom. Featuring Orlando's premier vocal ensembles and guest artists, this year's festival weaves together repertoire spanning centuries, cultures, and movements for change. Threads of Freedom invites audiences to reflect on the past while engaging thoughtfully with the present.
Since its founding in 2021, the Orlando Sings Choral Festival continues to grow as a distinctive artistic event in Central Florida, inviting audiences into an immersive multi-concert experience across several days. The 2026 festival continues that tradition with a dynamic lineup of performances held at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
“Threads of Freedom will have so much powerful music that not only looks back at history, but connects to the present moment we are living in our society and in the world today,” said Dr. Andrew Minear, Artistic & Executive Director of Orlando Sings. “Choral music is a communal art form and functions as such a powerful medium for exploring societal issues like our common desire for equal rights and to live together.”
The festival opens on Saturday, May 16th at 4:00 PM with Voice and Flame, performed by the Solaria Singers & Players under the direction of Andrew Minear. This bold and evocative program traces the arc of human resilience across centuries, featuring Marc-Antoine Charpentier's radiant Te Deum, Veljo Tormis' haunting Curse Upon Iron, written during the Soviet occupation of Estonia, Francis Poulenc's powerful Liberté, composed in secret during the Nazi occupation of France, and a thrilling set of concert spirituals by Moses Hogan that draw on the enduring strength of the human spirit. Together, these works illuminate the global struggle for freedom and the hope that continues to rise in times of upheaval. Local favorite Stephen Mumbert will appear as bass-baritone soloist.
Later that evening at 8:00 PM, Harmonia and Solaria Players present Stand Tall: Ramsey's Suffrage Cantata, conducted by Sandra Shafer. Andrea Ramsey's groundbreaking Suffrage Cantata traces the women's suffrage movement from its earliest calls for justice to its lasting legacy. Featuring texts from historical figures such as Susan B. Anthony, Ida B. Wells, Sojourner Truth, and Mary Church Terrell, the work honors both the triumphs and complexities of the movement, culminating in a powerful call to continue the work of equal rights for all. The program will star spoken-word artist Aretha Rodney McDonald as narrator and soprano Samantha Barnes Daniel. “This festival is about more than beautiful music, it's about connection,” said Sandra Shafer, conductor of Harmonia. “When we experience these stories together, we're reminded that the work of building a more just and compassionate world belongs to all of us.”
The festival culminates on Tuesday, May 19th at 7:30 PM in Steinmetz Hall with Celebrate 250 Years of the United States, a landmark concert bringing together 250 singers from across Central Florida in a vibrant and reflective tribute to America's founding ideals. At the heart of the program is Brandon Boyd's Redeem the Dream, inspired by the Declaration of Independence and Langston Hughes' Let America Be America Again, alongside Michael Bussewitz-Quarm's US, a work that draws from voices across American history to explore civic responsibility, democracy, and unity. The concert concludes with beloved patriotic works honoring veterans of every generation, offering audiences a moment both to celebrate and to reflect. Special guest artists include conductor Christine Linschoten, founding associate conductor of the Orlando Sings Symphonic Chorus, who returns to conduct US. Composer Brandon Boyd will not only be in attendance, but will also perform at the piano for Redeem the Dream, with acclaimed vocalist Jermaine Manor featured as soloist. The concert will also feature Apollo (Zachary Pecore, conductor), the newest Orlando Sings ensemble, in a special set celebrating the rich tradition of American music. “Part of what makes a festival experience so meaningful is the opportunity to immerse yourself in a larger artistic journey,” said Andrew Minear. “Each concert in the festival offers a distinct perspective, but together they create a deeper and more powerful conversation across history, culture, and the human experience. We invite our fellow Orlandoans to experience all three performances, if they can, and to be part of the vibrant audience community we are building together—bringing devoted choral enthusiasts and first-time concertgoers alike into the shared experience of live music.”
FESTIVAL LINEUP
VOICE AND FLAME featuring Solaria Singers
May 16, 2026 4:00 PM | Alexis & Jim Pugh Theatre
STAND TALL: RAMSEY'S SUFFRAGE CANTATA featuring Harmonia
May 16, 2026 | 8:00 PM | Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater
CELEBRATE 250 YEARS OF THE UNITED STATES featuring Orlando Sings Symphonic Chorus, Apollo, Harmonia, & Senior Singers from The Mayflower of Winter Park, along with choruses from Innovation Middle School, Apopka High School, and Edgewater High School
May 19, 2026 | 7:30 PM | Steinmetz Hall
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