Carlos Simon kicks off the 2024/25 season with premieres of two brand-new works: Hellfighters’ Blues and Fanfare and Festive Overture. 

Hellfighters’ Blues, inspired by the life and work of leading Black American musician and bandleader James Reese Europe, receives its world premiere at the prestigious Last Night of the Proms on Saturday 14 September at the Royal Albert Hall, with the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sakari Oramo. The piece marks Carlos’ BBC Proms commissioning debut, and will receive further performances this season by the National Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops Orchestra as co-commissioners. 

September 14 also marks the DC premiere of Here I Stand: Paul Robeson, co-commissioned by the NSO and The Washington Chorus and first performed by Oakland Symphony. The work, with libretto by Dan Harder, will be performed by bass-baritone Morris Robinson and conducted by Eugene Rogers.  

This marks the start of Carlos’ fourth season as Composer-in-Residence at the Kennedy Center, where he has already curated the ​‘DC ORIGINALITY’ evenings on September 10 and 11 – a star-studded celebration of DC-born talent conducted by Kellen Gray, highlighting the cultural beat of the city.  

The National Symphony Orchestra will officially open their season on September 28 with Gianandrea Noseda conducting the Opening Gala, which features Carlos’ Four Black American Dances. 

This season is also Carlos’ first year as Composer Chair at the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and this will be celebrated at their Opening Night Gala on September 19, where Carlos’ Fanfare and Festive Overture will be premiered. As a BSO co-commission, the work marks Andris Nelson’s tenth year as Music Director of the symphony. 

Carlos then returns to Boston on September 26 for the symphony’s performances of Wake Up! Concerto for Orchestra, as well as on September 29 for a specially curated concert with the Boston Symphony Chamber Players, where he will perform works by his fellow Blacknificent 7 composers alongside the chamber players and mezzo-soprano Chabrelle Williams. 

The 24/25 season sees two further world premieres: Zodiac with Jacksonville Symphony on June 6 and 7, and his highly anticipated Good News Mass on April 17 and 18 with the LA Philharmonic and Sunday Service Collective, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel with visuals by Melina Matsoukas.