Scottsdale Symphonic Orchestra’s six-part journey through the United States of America’s 250 years of spirit, struggle, and triumph continues with the fourth installment, Voices of Courage: Struggle and Defiance, a powerful exploration of resistance through music, uniting two bold works that confront injustice and affirm the resilience of the human spirit. 

Margaret Bonds’s Montgomery Variations, inspired by the Montgomery Bus Boycott, honors the courage of civil rights activists and reflects the ongoing pursuit of justice and equality in America. Her music resonates with dignity and strength, amplifying a distinctly American story of nonviolent protest and enduring hope. In contrast and complement, Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto no. 1 channels the emotional turbulence of life under Soviet oppression. Written in secrecy and filled with tension, sorrow, and resolve, the concerto speaks to universal struggles against tyranny and the cost of speaking truth to power. Together, these works celebrate voices that refuse to be silenced, enriching the season’s theme of The American Journey: Struggle, Spirit, and Triumph through defiance, remembrance, and a call for freedom.