Sounds of the American West

We have been working on an amazing collaboration for our October concert! We would love to have the community join us on October 18th as we present Sounds of the American West.

The centerpiece of the evening is a powerful collaboration between Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Jennifer Higdon and Emmy award-winning Idaho filmmaker Kris Millgate of Tight Line Media. Higdon’s sweeping orchestral score All Things Majestic will come alive through Millgate’s newly created film, showcasing breathtaking images of the Western landscape—from soaring mountain vistas to intimate details of rivers and wildlife. Commissioned by the Grand Teton Music Festival in 2011, Higdon’s work captures the awe and wonder of the American West, now reimagined with Millgate’s cinematic lens for Idaho Falls audiences.

“This partnership between Higdon’s music and Millgate’s film will be unlike anything our audiences have experienced before,” said Music Director Thomas Heuser. “It’s a stunning reminder of the landscapes we call home and the ways art can help us see them with fresh eyes.”

The program also features Ferde Grofé’s Grand Canyon Suite, a colorful portrait in sound that moves from the quiet glow of a canyon sunrise to the drama of a desert thunderstorm. Completing the evening is Aaron Copland’s iconic Fanfare for the Common Man, a stirring anthem that showcases the brilliance of the Symphony’s brass section and embodies the resilient spirit of America.

Through the generosity of Mountain View Hospital, Teton Cancer Institute, ElevateHer Music, Blue Cross Of Idaho, Arthur & Annelies Kull, and Lisa & Bryce Burtenshaw, this concert not only celebrates the beauty of the American West but also honors the strength of those facing breast cancer. The Symphony is proud to unite music, film, and community in a performance that uplifts and inspires.