Resonance Ensemble Presents “The North American Indigenous Songbook”
“The power of nature is so integrated into everyday life in the Pacific Northwest, and this is why it is so exciting to bring this repertoire to the stage with Resonance Ensemble.”
Resonance Ensemble Presents the West Coast Premiere of
The North American Indigenous Songbook
Indigenous voices reshape the art song tradition in a historic Portland performance.
Known for its fearless programming and nationally-recognized collaborations, Resonance Ensemble presents the West Coast premiere of The North American Indigenous Songbook on Sunday, March 8 at the Alberta Rose Theatre. The program partners curator/pianist Timothy Long (Muscogee Creek & Choctaw Nations) with Resonance’s soloists to bring this landmark repertoire — including the first performances of new works from the forthcoming Volume 2 — to Portland audiences. Guest conductor/composer Danielle Jagelski (Oneida Nation & Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe) guides the choral ensemble in performances of her own works and additional Indigenous choral composers.
About the North American Indigenous Songbook
Conceived by Long to address the absence of Native composers in the traditional art song canon, the Songbook provides a platform for Indigenous composers to create new works for recital and concert stages. Since its New York debut in November 2024, the project has continued to expand, with the forthcoming Volume 2 introducing a fresh set of commissioned works.
“Although I knew such music existed,” Long says, “none that I knew was written for singers in the concert hall. The North American Indigenous Songbook attempts to fill this void by creating a new library of repertoire written by descendants of the first inhabitants of North America.”
Long emphasizes that accessibility is central to the project. “One of the rules of this Songbook is that we want everybody to be able to sing these songs.”
“Our singers thrive in repertoire that demands precision, imagination, and emotional depth — and this music calls for all three,” says Artistic Director Katherine FitzGibbon. “The North American Indigenous Songbook represents a living expansion of the art song tradition, and we are honored to bring it to life with the level of artistry and care it deserves.”
Concert Highlights
West Coast premiere of The North American Indigenous Songbook, Volume 1
World premieres of songs from Volume 2 by composers Danielle Jagelski (Oneida Nation & Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe) and Marion Newman (Kwagiulth & Stó:lō First Nations)
Volume 1 repertoire by Dawn Avery (Mohawk), Raven Chacon (Diné), Connor Chee (Diné), and R. Carlos Nakai ( Navajo‑Ute)
Choral works conducted by Jagelski, including her own works, “Yôtin” by Sherryl Sewepagaham (Cree), and On Stochastic Wave Behavior by Leilehua Lanzilotti (Native Hawaiian), previously performed only by A Roomful of Teeth
Immersive visual art by Cherokee photographer Joe Cantrell
Jagelski, known to Portland audiences as Artistic Director and Co-Founder of Renegade Opera, is also an award-winning composer and conductor, and a recipient of multiple national awards in contemporary opera, including the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation.
"The power of nature is so integrated into everyday life in the Pacific Northwest, and this is why it is so exciting to bring this repertoire to the stage with Resonance Ensemble.” says Jagelski. “At a time when governmental forces are actively fighting to sever the connection between the land and it's people, it is more important than ever to delve deeper into that relationship.”
The concert is part of Resonance Ensemble’s 2025–26 season, which highlights contemporary music, collaboration, and programs that examine identity and community through performance.
For more information visit resonancechoral.org/indigenous-songbook. Tickets available at Alberta Rose Theatre.
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Note to Journalists: Katherine FitzGibbon, Shohei Kobayashi, and featured guests are available for print, online, and broadcast interviews. If you would like more information on our season or would like to schedule an interview, please contact Liz Bacon Brownson at liz@ohcreativepdx.com or by calling 971-212-8034.
About Resonance Ensemble
Under the direction of Katherine FitzGibbon, Resonance Ensemble is a professional vocal ensemble based in Portland, Oregon, known for bold, thematic concerts that spark conversation and connection through voice, music, and creative partnerships. Now in its 17th season, the ensemble presents programs that commission new works, collaborate across disciplines, and bring voices that reflect identity, memory, and resilience to the stage. For this concert, Resonance collaborates with Timothy Long, Danielle Jagelski, and visual artist Joe Cantrell to create a multi-disciplinary performance that blends music, voice, and image.
About Katherine FitzGibbon – Artistic Director
Katherine FitzGibbon is Founder, Artistic Director, and conductor of Resonance Ensemble, leading the ensemble in programs that blend classical choral traditions with contemporary music, collaboration, and community engagement.
Guest Artists Bios
Timothy Long (Muscogee Creek and Choctaw Nations) – Curator
Pianist and conductor Timothy Long is Artistic and Music Director of Opera at the Eastman School of Music and assistant conductor at the Metropolitan Opera. Long conceived the Songbook to create concert repertoire by Native and Indigenous composers, filling a longstanding gap in the classical canon.
Danielle Jagelski (Oneida Nation and Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe) – Guest Conductor
Danielle Jagelski is a composer, conductor, and Artistic Director of Renegade Opera. Her work explores resilience, identity, and ancestral memory. For this concert, she leads selections of her own choral works.
Joe Cantrell (Cherokee) – Visual Artist
Portland-based Cherokee artist Joe Cantrell creates photography that engages deeply with Indigenous history and perspective. A long-time collaborator with Resonance Ensemble, his work will be integrated into the concert to create an immersive, multi-disciplinary experience.
NATIONAL PRESS HIGHLIGHTS
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