Johnny Gandelsman

“A violinist who can do anything,” (The Philadelphia Inquirer) Johnny Gandelsman’s This is America is an ever-growing collection of commissioned works by U.S. composers that reflect on society’s rupture and disconnection. “Rich in diversity but united by interpretative beauty and belief,” (Gramophone) the works honor our country’s vibrant cultural tapestry and its myriad perspectives. Gandelsman, a 2024 MacArthur Fellow and Grammy® Award-winning member of the Silkroad Ensemble, will perform a solo violin program featuring the world premiere of a Penn Live Arts commission by Tyshawn Sorey, a Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, multi-instrumentalist and professor of music at Penn.

The program for each performance varies but both include the world premiere work by Tyshawn Sorey.