On July 10, Casa de América in Madrid will host a commemorative concert marking the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, organized in collaboration with the Madrid Association of Composers (AMCC). The program will feature works by composers from diverse musical traditions across the Atlantic and will offer a journey combining 20th-century repertoire with contemporary compositions.
The concert, which will take place on Friday, July 10, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the Gabriela Mistral Amphitheater (entrance at C/ Marqués del Duero, 2), is free and open to the public until capacity is reached. It will be performed by the Sonor Ensemble, a group comprised of Jesús Ángel León (violin), Luminita Nenita (violin), Joaquín Arias (viola), José María Mañero (cello), Barbara Veiga (double bass), Sebastián Mariné (piano), and guest flautist Katrina Penman. Luis Aguirre will conduct.
The program will include works by George Gershwin, Aaron Copland, Yvonne Freckmann, Katrina Penman, and Flores Chaviano. Among the pieces scheduled are Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, Copland’s Ukulele Serenade, a premiere composed especially for this occasion, Katrina Penman’s To Andalusia and Beyond, and Flores Chaviano’s Con-nuo y toque de comparsa.
This concert proposes an encounter between musical repertoires, styles, and traditions that engage with the transatlantic cultural context and commemorate a significant anniversary in the history of the United States.
250th Anniversary of the birth of the United States
Casa de América celebrates the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States in 2026, an event that recalls the foundational process that led to the birth of the country at the end of the 18th century.
This concert is part of the activities surrounding this event, through which Casa de América will serve as a platform for encounter, reflection, and artistic creation reflecting the diverse realities of the Americas. The celebration of this 250th anniversary offers an opportunity to reflect on the historical, political, and cultural development of the United States, as well as its relationship with the rest of the Americas.
Performers: Sonor Ensemble.
Guest Flute Soloist: Katrina Penman.
Violin I: Pablo Martín.
Violin II: Luminita Nenita.
Viola: Paula García.
Cello: José María Mañero.
Double Bass: Bárbara Veiga.
Piano: Sebastián Mariné.
Conductor: Luis Aguirre.
PROGRAM:
Flores Chaviano (Cuba, 1946).
- Continuo and Comparsa Drumming.
Katrina Penman (United Kingdom, 1982).
- To Andalusia and Beyond (flute: Katrina Penman).
Aaron Copland (United States, 1900-1990).
- Ukulele Serenade (violin: Pablo Martín; piano: Sebastián Mariné).
Yvonne Freckmann (United States, 1988).
- Indivisible (work written by the composer, a member of the AMCC, specifically for this event).
George Gershwin (United States, 1898-1937).
- Rhapsody in Blue (piano: Sebastián Mariné).
Jesús Ángel León (Spain, 1956).
- Sonor Blues.