LAND THAT I LOVE

New choral works that reflect the migration stories of their composers

OCTOBER 18 – 26, 2025

In commemoration of the United States’ 250th anniversary, Cantus offers Land That I Love – a concert program honoring our diverse American heritage with captivating music by composers carrying their own migration stories. From Saunder Choi to Gloria Estefan, these artists are as wide-ranging and multi-faceted as the music they create.

“A nation’s culture resides within the hearts and in the soul of its people” (Mahatma Gandhi), and there can be no clearer means to express that collective heart and soul than through music. Join Cantus for an uplifting program filled with pride and passion for our shared American identity.

This program will also feature a brand new commission by composer Shabnam Abedi, a highly sought after multi-genre vocalist and emerging composer and arranger. This piece is commissioned for Land That I Love through the generous support of Doug and Ruth Crane.

Repertoire Highlights:

“Manush Dhoro” – Shabnam Abedi
-Commissioned for this concert through generous support of Doug and Ruth Crane
N-400 Erasure Songs: Mvmt. 2 – Melissa Dunphy
“Leron Leron Sinta” – Traditional Filipino folksong; arr. Saunder Choi
“TaReKiTa” – Reena Esmail
“Mi Tierra” (My Homeland) – Gloria Estefan; arr. Yosvany Estepe
“Fengyang ge” (Flower Drum Song) – Traditional Chinese; arr. Chen Yi
“The Road Home” – Stephen Paulus

Featured Composers

Melissa Dunphy

Saunder Choi

Reena Esmail

Yosvany Estepe

Shabnam Abedi

CLICK TO BUILD AN IN-PERSON SUBSCRIPTION

CLICK TO BUILD A STREAMING SUBSCRIPTION

ONLINE STREAMING

OCTOBER 24 – NOVEMBER 2, 2025

TICKETS

Featured Exhibition

As part of this series, Malaysian Chinese artist Shun Yong—a photographer, storyteller, and paper maker whose work explores immigration, identity, and memory—will present five pieces from his Occupations series. Blending photography with hand-papermaking, Yong’s work reflects on intergenerational trauma, cultural preservation, and the legacy of colonial labor histories. His contributions offer a poignant visual counterpoint to the themes explored in the concert, deepening the audience’s engagement with the stories of migration and belonging. Yong will also participate in a post-concert artist talk following the performance at Sundin Music Hall, offering further insight into his creative process and the personal and historical narratives behind his work.