Syler Symphony No. 1 “Blue”

February 21, 2026 7:30PM Brendle Recital Hall

Piedmont Wind Symphony
Mark A. Norman, Artistic Director & Conductor

Elizabeth Pacheco Rose, Soprano
Brent Harvey, Tuba
Winston-Salem Symphony Chorus
Chris Gilliam, Director
James Syler, Composer in Residence

A bold fusion of music and metaphor, James Syler’s Symphony No. 1 “Blue” is a deeply moving work for soprano, chorus, and wind ensemble—part symphony, part oratorio, and wholly transformative. Structured in five movements and rooted in a narrative text, this choral symphony explores the spiritual arc of a modern soul navigating despair, stillness, revelation, and ultimately, renewal.

Inspired by literary figures such as Joseph Conrad’s Kurtz and the poetic voice of T.S. Eliot, Syler constructs a powerful meditation on inner emptiness and the mysterious process of change. The symphony follows a chiastic form (ABCBA), mirroring a descent into hopelessness and an ascent toward spiritual awakening. Each movement—Impending Blue, Dark Blue, Fading Blue, Still Point Blue, and True Blue—marks a stage in this emotional and philosophical journey.

The world premiere of Rivers Ascending by James Syler is a striking new concerto that reimagines the tuba as a vessel of transformation. Inspired by the metaphor of water rising against gravity, the work explores the tuba’s surprising lyrical and virtuosic range—challenging expectations and defying limitations. Like rivers ascending into steam, the tuba emerges from the depths to soar, sing, and tell a story of renewal and possibility.