We Are Phoenix

A powerful new choral work exploring themes of renewal, vulnerability, and the beauty of ordinary moments.

A major new choral work comes to life as the Rhode Island Civic Chorale & Orchestra (RICCO) presents the Rhode Island premiere of We Are Phoenix by celebrated American composer Timothy C. Takach.

Unlike most premieres, this performance is shaped through direct collaboration: Takach will be in residence throughout the week leading up the performance, working closely with RICCO and musicians from the University of Rhode Island. The result is a living, breathing premiere—music refined in the rehearsal room and brought to the stage with rare immediacy.

We Are Phoenix reflects on renewal, vulnerability, and the shared rhythms of the natural world and human life. Drawing on vivid, everyday imagery—plants, birds, seasons, and quiet moments—the work invites listeners to reflect on what Takach calls the beauty that lives in ordinary experience. The music feels both familiar and surprising, accessible yet deeply moving.

The program also highlights Takach’s broader compositional voice, featuring URI opera students and faculty in selections from his operatic and instrumental works.

Following the performance, audiences are invited to stay for a post-concert conversation with the composer, offering a unique opportunity to hear directly from one of today’s most widely performed living choral composers.

You can only hear a premiere once—join us for this rare and compelling musical experience.