Letters to America
What would America look like if it listened to Black Women? What would it feel like? What beauty would emerge from the pain, frustration, and radical imagination of Black Women if our voices were heard, valued, and uplifted?
Colorful collage of Black Women, young and old.
About the Project
Letters to America, a new multi-movement work by Brittany J. Green for soprano and orchestra, grapples with these questions, placing the voices of present-day Black women in conversation with American historical documents through community-sourced letters and excavation poetry that reimagines historical American documents through the lens of Black women. Through these pairings, this piece reclaims the agency and humanity of Black women past and present, decentering the voice of empire and re-centering the resistance and resilience of the very women whose labor and sacrifice have built and maintained this country. GRAMMY-award winning soprano Karen Slack and the American Composers Orchestra will premiere the new work at Carnegie Hall on March 11, 2026.
Karen Slack in orange dress in front of brown background.
The significance of this work on the heels of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and its presentation in the Classical space — a place that has excluded and diminished the artistic contributions of Black women — cannot be understated. Through this project, Black women whose voices have been ignored, misunderstood, and shut down will have the opportunity to hear their voices, stories, and experiences center stage, inviting audiences to see America through the eyes of Black women.
Call for Letters
We are seeking community-sourced letters responding to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Submit your letter by clicking here. Selected letters will be used as text in the piece and credited in the score. Letters must be received by August 9th for consideration. Those selected will be notified by January 2026.
For any questions or assistance submitting, please contact steven.alesso@americancomposers.org.
Brittany J. Green in a black and gold animal print jumpsuit in front of a golden yellow background.
Performance Details
Length: approx. 15’
Instrumentation 2222/2211/timp/2perc/hrp/pf/str/soprano
Availability
Interested orchestras are invited to join the Letters to America consortium. To inquire about membership details, reach out to Dan Visconti at dan@viscontiarts.com.
Letters to America will be available to non-consortium members in Spring 2027.