Nominated for a 2012 Grammy Award for "Best Instrumental Composition"
Ansel Adams: America, composed by Chris Brubeck and Dave Brubeck, is a symphonic tribute saluting one of America's most cherished artists — Ansel Adams.
The 22-minute, one-movement piece, fully integrates sweeping melodies with 102 striking images of or by Ansel. Few people realize that Ansel Adams trained to be a classical musician, a fact which greatly influenced the work. It has consistently played to full houses, and has succeeded in its mission to bring new and larger audiences to orchestra concerts.
Ansel Adams: America has been performed to critical and popular acclaim by orchestras across the country. The Stockton Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Peter Jaffe, gave the world premiere and led a commissioning consortium of orchestras including the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra, Monterey Symphony, Fresno Philharmonic, Temple University Orchestra, and Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra. Ansel Adams: America has also been performed by the San Diego Symphony, Colorado Music Festival Orchestra, Yakima Symphony, Santa Barbara Symphony, North State Symphony, Sinfonia Gulf Coast, the Akron Symphony and more. See a full list of performances here.
Upcoming Performances
NOVEMBER 4 & 5, 2023
New West Symphony
Thousand Oaks, CA
New West Symphony performance of Ansel Adams: America.
Recent Performances
JULY 19, 2022
Festival Napa Valley
Napa, CA
Michelle Di Russo leads Festival Orchestra Napa in Ansel Adams: America with the Brubeck Brothers Quartet at Charles Krug Winery.
SEPT 24, 2021
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Richmond, VA & Livestream
Excerpts from Ansel Adams: America will be performed by pianist/composer Michael Jefry Stevens, to celebrate the opening of the special exhibition Ansel Adams: Compositions in Nature at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Pre-registration required for Livestream.
SEPT 26, 2021
Quincy Symphony Orchestra
Quincy, IL
The Quincy Symphony Orchestra performs Ansel Adams: America by Chris and Dave Brubeck.