Ensemble Altera, one of today’s most compelling professional chamber choirs, presents the world premiere of Declarations, a major new choral work by Piers Connor Kennedy.

Spanning 75 minutes without intermission, Declarations is a bold and deeply human meditation on the Declaration of Independence—its creation, ideals, contradictions, and ongoing legacy. Drawing on a rich tapestry of texts, from Thomas Jefferson and Langston Hughes, to contemporary voices including Tracy K. Smith, dg nanouk okpik, and William Ashford, among others, the work refracts 250 years of history through a modern, emotionally powerful lens.

America’s founding documents have echoed throughout global history and culture for more than two centuries. Why did revolutionaries like John Adams and his peers draw on the past as they drafted the Declaration and crafted the Constitution? What ideas shaped the United States’ working definition of liberty, and how did that translate to audiences abroad? Join us to explore how “we the people” imagined a new political vocabulary to interpret the American experiment, which we continue today.

This is a hybrid event. FREE for MHS Members. $10 per person fee (in person). No charge for virtual attendees or Card to Culture participants (EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare). The in-person reception starts at 5:00 and the program will begin 6:00 PM.

In 1776, people grappled with ideas of liberty, loyalty, and the role of government in society. Private letters, intimate diaries, and newspaper accounts reveal how the Declaration of Independence grew from draft to founding document. "1776: Declaring Independence" spotlights handwritten copies of the Declaration by John Adams and Thomas Jefferson as well as multiple early printings, including a rare Dunlap broadside. On and off the page, we explore how it echoed across the commonwealth and around the world, reshaping the colonists’ chances of launching a new nation. How did the Declaration change Americans’ quest for liberty, then and now? We invite visitors to trace the Declaration’s complex legacy as a national beacon for celebration and protest.

Key dates: May 30, June 6, June 13, June 20, June 27, and June 29 through July  1-3

The focus of the event is to cleanup trash and glass from the site, clean up trails, remove invasive understory plants, and build habitat walls with the brush generated; all of which are done to improve overall forest health and increase visibility into the woods. This is event is open to all, no prior experience is needed but please register in advance using our form. 

The event will happen rain or shine. We will cancel in the case of extreme weather such as thunderstorms.

Staff will provide all the tools, supplies, and instruction needed for the project(s). Please dress in comfortable & weather-appropriate clothing, as well as closed toe shoes. We recommend participants bring their own water, snacks, sunscreen, and bug spray. All ages are welcome, we just ask to note if any children will be joining for the day!

For the understory plant removal aspect, expect to be utilizing hand cutting tools like loppers and pruners, moving brush, raking, and maybe even kneeling/crouching. Please let us know in the form if you have any special accommodations or needs in order to joyfully participate! 

We hope to see you there, and we would also love to hear your ideas for future projects! Be sure to fill out our Google Form to sign up.