Presented by the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, International Festival of Arts & Ideas, and Yale Schwarzman Center
Saturday, June 21 | 7:00 PM Concert | New Haven Green | FREE
Walking Tours Begin at 6:00 PM (Reservation Encouraged)
NEW HAVEN, CT – Music and community will converge in spectacular harmony at City of Floating Sounds, a free, outdoor concert on the New Haven Green presented by the New Haven Symphony Orchestra (NHSO), International Festival of Arts & Ideas, and Yale Schwarzman Center. On Saturday, June 21, 2025 at 7:00 p.m., the NHSO, led by Music Director Perry So, will perform a concert that celebrates New Haven’s stories, landmarks, and people—inviting audiences to take a musical journey that begins across the city and ends in a symphonic celebration under the summer sky.
The evening begins at 6:00 p.m. with a one-of-a-kind interactive experience: choose from six different walking routes through New Haven, each exploring a distinct neighborhood or cultural theme. Along the way, patrons will use a phone app to play one musical line of City of Floating Sounds by composer Huang Ruo, turning the city itself into a living musical instrument. All routes converge on the Green, where the NHSO will perform an excerpt from the piece, along with a powerful and joyful program that celebrates New Haven's rich cultural heritage.
The concert, conducted by NHSO Music Director Perry So, features:
- Fanfare for the Common Man – Aaron Copland
- Overture to La Gazza Ladra – Gioachino Rossini
- City of Floating Sounds (excerpt) – Huang Ruo
- Piano Concerto in C Minor, Mvt. 1 – Helen Hagan featuring guest pianist Samantha Ege
- But Not for Me & I Got Rhythm – George Gershwin
- Danzón No. 2 – Arturo Márquez, with young musicians from the Yale Music in Schools Initiative performing side-by-side with the NHSO
NHSO Music Director Perry So says, “City of Floating Sounds is a musical portrait of our city, and together we will travel New Haven’s sonic pathways, and discover some of the voices that have shaped our history. The concert is a musical celebration of New Haven’s neighborhoods, and the ultimate source of our inspiration — the lives that make up the beautiful tapestry of our shared home.”
Spotlight: Helen Hagan & Samantha Ege
The concert will honor New Haven-born trailblazer Helen Hagan (1891–1964), the first Black woman to earn a degree from the Yale School of Music. Her Piano Concerto in C Minor was premiered by the NHSO in 1912, and this concert brings her music home again. Acclaimed British pianist and scholar Samantha Ege, a leading authority on Hagan’s life and work, will perform the solo part in this rare and historic revival.
Walking Tours – Reserve a Route & Join the Music
Participants can choose from six curated walking paths, each featuring stories tied to New Haven’s history. Route themes include Dixwell’s musical heritage, the architecture and legacy of the arts district, and historic venues of the Festival’s past. The walking routes are approximately 17–30 minutes and are designed to be accessible, immersive, and celebratory. Visit artidea.org for full event and route details.
Jennifer Harrison Newman, Associate Artistic Director of Yale Schwarzman Center, says, “Since its inception, collaboration has been a core value of Yale Schwarzman Center. Huang Ruo’s City of Floating Sounds provides a unique opportunity for frequent collaborators to come together beyond walls and seats, outside into our neighborhoods, at once celebrating New Haven’s singular histories and the ability of music to transcend boundaries.” She continued, “What struck me about participating in City of Floating Sounds was the way that my walk was transformed from my typical ‘get from point A to point B’ hustle, to a more meandering and contemplative pace. My energy was shifted, and I experienced the city spaces in a new way.”
This event is FREE and open to all. No reservation is required for the concert. Walking tour reservations are encouraged.
Photo above of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra performing on the New Haven Green at the International Festival of Arts & Ideas. For additional photos or to request interview or media appearances, please contact Marketing@NewHavenSymphony.org.
This concert is sponsored by the Helen H. Roberts Trust and Southern Connecticut State University.
