There are seasons when music feels especially necessary.
Recent national surveys from the American Psychological Association show that stress, uncertainty, and emotional strain are widespread. More than three-quarters of adults say the future of the nation is a significant source of stress, and more than six in ten report that societal division is affecting their emotional well-being. Many adults also report feeling overwhelmed or needing more emotional support. In moments like these, music offers something increasingly valuable. It creates space to pause, reflect, and reconnect with something deeper than the pressures of daily life.
On May 17, the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir will present Voices of the Spirit, a performance built around two works that confront conflict and loss while pointing toward reconciliation and peace. Through Jeffrey Van’s A Procession Winding Around Me and Mozart’s Requiem, the concert invites audiences to reflect on the realities of division and the enduring possibility of healing.
For Artistic Director Dr. Eric Stark, the program speaks directly to the world people are navigating today.
“Music gives us a way to process what we are experiencing, even when words fall short,” Stark said. “Whitman witnessed a nation divided by war and wrote about both the pain and the humanity he saw, and that perspective remains deeply relevant. This performance gives audiences the opportunity to reflect, to listen, and to recognize the shared experiences that connect us.”
Walt Whitman did not observe the Civil War from a distance. His brother had been injured, and Whitman stayed to care for others. He walked through hospital wards filled with wounded soldiers, he sat beside them, and he listened. What he witnessed shaped some of his most powerful poetry. In works like Beat, Beat Drums and Reconciliation, he captured both the devastation of war and the quiet moments of compassion that existed within it.
Composer Jeffrey Van later brought those words to life through music in A Procession Winding Around Me. His composition pairs choir and classical guitar, creating a sound that feels intimate and immediate. The Indianapolis Symphonic Choir will perform the work with guitarist Daniel Duarte, Professor of Music at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music.
The music does not present conflict as something distant or abstract. It reveals its emotional reality and asks listeners to consider the personal and collective costs.
If Whitman’s poetry reflects the human cost of conflict between nations, Mozart’s Requiem explores loss on a deeply personal level. Written near the end of Mozart’s life and left unfinished at his death, the Requiem has become one of the most recognized and emotionally powerful works in classical music. It moves between urgency and stillness, fear and reassurance. It acknowledges grief while also offering peace.
In this performance, the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir will present the completion by Harvard scholar Robert Levin. Soloists Gabriela Martinez, Mitzi Westra, Thomas Cooley, and Ron Dukes will join the Choir, bringing individual voice and perspective to the work’s emotional landscape.
For Executive Director Dr. Jennifer Cooper, the Requiem reflects the deeper purpose behind the Choir’s work.
“Music allows people to feel seen in their experiences,” Cooper said. “Whether someone is carrying personal loss, stress, or uncertainty, this kind of performance offers space to reflect and reconnect. That is central to who we are as an organization. We are not only performing great music. We are creating moments that help people feel grounded, connected, and understood.”
While the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir is based in Central Indiana, its impact extends far beyond the city.
The Choir is recognized for its artistic excellence and its ability to perform some of the most demanding works in the choral repertoire. Its singers bring together a remarkable range of talent, including professional musicians, educators, and vocalists who have trained and performed at the highest levels.
Under Dr. Stark’s leadership, the Choir has built a reputation for thoughtful programming and powerful performances. Voices of the Spirit, sponsored by the Lilly Endowment, has become one of its signature concerts, drawing audiences who are seeking more than entertainment. They are seeking meaning.
“This Choir brings extraordinary dedication and artistry to every performance,” Stark said. “What makes it special is not only the technical ability of the singers, but their commitment to communicating something deeper. They understand that this music carries emotional weight, and they honor that responsibility.”
Voices of the Spirit does not offer easy answers. Instead, it offers something more valuable. It offers space to reflect on history, acknowledge loss, and a reminder that reconciliation begins with recognizing our shared humanity.
Whitman wrote about seeing dignity even in those once considered enemies. Mozart wrote music that has helped generations confront loss and find peace. Today, those same themes continue to resonate.Join the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir for Voices of the Spirit on Sunday, May 17, at 3 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church, 700 N. Meridian Street. Tickets are on sale now.
