America 250
A Four-Hand Piano Celebration
Created to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary — an enduring all-American program of Gershwin to Bernstein, for any venue celebrating American music.
“From the irresistible rhythms of Gershwin to the wide-open landscapes of Copland, from the theatrical brilliance of Bernstein to the pioneering voice of Florence Price — three decades of music that is unmistakably, gloriously American.”
Gershwin to Bernstein
Sixty minutes, performed straight through. Program order as performed.
- IGeorge Gershwin (1898–1937)3 Preludesarr. Mada & Hugh
- IIAaron Copland (1900–1990)Hoe Down from Rodeoarr. Mada & Hugh
- IIIVincent Persichetti (1915–1987)Serenade No. 8, Op. 62A bene placido · Con grazia · Con calore · Semplice
- IVFlorence B. Price (1887–1953)Coreopsisarr. Po-Sim Head & Kowoon Lee
- VSamuel Barber (1910–1981)Selections from Souvenirs, Op. 28Waltz · Pas de deux · Two Step · Hesitation-Tango
- VIVee Lawnhurst & Muriel PollockTable d’HôteHors d’oeuvres · Soup · Entrée · Salad · Parfait · Demi-Tasse
- VIILeonard Bernstein (1918–1990)“America” from West Side Storyarr. Mada & Hugh
Built for celebrations
Born of a milestone year
Conceived for America’s 250th anniversary, this program still resonates wherever audiences gather to celebrate American music — anniversaries, festivals, and concert seasons alike.
One piano, four hands
The whole celebration from a single concert grand — no orchestra, no complex staging, just a duet or extra artist bench for the two players. One keyboard, and three decades of American music.
Made for American stages
Built for concert series, festivals, embassy concerts, and cultural exchange programs.
Available for the 2026–2027 season and beyond · Embassy concerts · Cultural exchange programs · Festival appearances
The voices behind the music
George Gershwin
The Brooklyn songwriter who carried jazz into the concert hall with Rhapsody in Blue and Porgy and Bess. His three Preludes pack blues, swing, and Latin rhythm into a few irresistible minutes.
Aaron Copland
The composer who gave America its open-air sound — Appalachian Spring, Fanfare for the Common Man, and the cowboy ballet Rodeo, whose Hoe Down is built on a real fiddle tune.
Vincent Persichetti
A Philadelphia-born composer, pianist, and longtime Juilliard teacher whose students included Philip Glass. His Serenade No. 8 for piano four hands is witty, compact, and beautifully made.
Florence B. Price
The first Black woman to have a symphony performed by a major American orchestra — the Chicago Symphony, in 1933. She fused spirituals and dance rhythms with a Romantic composer’s craft.
Samuel Barber
Two-time Pulitzer winner, best known for his Adagio for Strings. Souvenirs began life as a piano duet — an affectionate look back at ballroom dancing in the 1910s.
Vee Lawnhurst & Muriel Pollock
Two Tin Pan Alley pianists and songwriters who performed together as a piano duo on 1930s radio. Table d’Hôte serves up a six-course menu of novelty piano, from hors d’oeuvres to demi-tasse.
Leonard Bernstein
Conductor, composer, and educator — the first American-born music director of the New York Philharmonic. “America” is the fiery, cross-rhythmed showstopper of West Side Story.
Easy to present
No intermission — performed straight through.
One concert grand, two players.
No special preparation required beyond tuning; a duet or extra artist bench is needed for the four-hand repertoire.
Concert series, festivals, embassy concerts, and cultural exchange programs.
Bring America 250 to your stage
Concert series, festivals, cultural programs, and special celebrations of American music.
Mada & Hugh Piano Duo
madahugh@gmail.com·(856) 745-6717
Press kit and recordings available upon request.