A Change is Gonna Come celebrates the rich legacy of American protest songs, from beloved anthems to new commissions. Arrangements of 1960s classics explore the sonic palette of strings and voice, with nods to the iconic originals as well as today’s cultural landscape, and the sound worlds of film scores, contemporary chamber music, fiddle, gospel, and more. These songs reflect on individual experiences of oppression and call us to join the collective work of liberation. A Change is Gonna Come confronts our past and present and celebrates the act of protest as one of our most precious rights. The program includes arrangements of historic songs like Blowin’ in the Wind by Bob Dylan, new commissions by composers like Errollyn Wallen, and world premieres of new works by UCSC composers Siamak Barghi and Lukáš Janata written expressly for Palaver Strings.

Palaver Strings is a GRAMMY-nominated, musician-led string ensemble based in Portland, ME with a mission to strengthen and inspire community through music. In their musician-led model, Palaver’s musicians share artistic and administrative leadership, guided by a passion for engaging new audiences, addressing social justice issues, and amplifying underrepresented voices. Equally committed to performance and education, Palaver presents a full season of live concerts and serves hundreds of students yearly at the Palaver Music Center in Portland. They will be joined on this concert date by tenor vocalist Nicholas Phan.

This concert marks a powerful convergence of several community partners: an early start to Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music’s upcoming summer season, Kuumbwa Jazz’s longstanding presentation of inspiring live music, the UC Santa Cruz Arts Division’s ‘April in Santa Cruz’ Festival of Creative Music, and the inaugural Ripple Effect Festival – a celebration of Santa Cruz County’s creative community during arts and culture month in California.

Based in Santa Cruz, the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music is America’s longest-running and preeminent festival devoted exclusively to new orchestral music. In its 64th season—coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence—the Festival explores the meaning of this milestone as a moment of reckoning and reflection. Through bold, uncompromising works by today’s composers, the season explores American identity in all its complexity, grappling with history, power, belonging, and the ongoing struggle to realize the promises of democracy, equality, and unalienable rights. Under the leadership of internationally acclaimed conductor Cristian Măcelaru, the unparalleled Cabrillo Festival Orchestra—comprised of the nation’s foremost new-music musicians—brings these new works to life, illuminating a living, evolving portrait of who we are and who we might yet become.