LETTERS TO JACKIE is a newly conceived song cycle based on the letters sent to Jacqueline Kennedy by the American people following the assassination of her husband. The song cycle represents the collective grief of a nation and the power of community and healing in a time of great tragedy.
A concept developed by Ryan Townsend Strand, winner of the 2021 American Prize, in collaboration with pianist Karina Kontorovitch, the cycle represents diverse voices, not only in the letters set to music but also in the composers chosen to set the letters. Strand premiered Letters To Jackie for a public audience on November 19, 2023, in honor of the 60th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Following the world premiere of the newly commissioned song cycle, Strand made a studio recording with Sono Luminus Records, securing its legacy in December 2023, set for release in 2024..
Letters To Jackie is generously made possible in part by Sole Commission Sponsors Drs. Anne & Dennis Wentz
The Composers
Under the guidance and principles of equal representation, the cycle includes voices of differing sex, gender, race, creed, and citizenship to offer hope, community, and access. Learn more about these amazing artists here.
Ryan Townsend Strand
A storyteller first and foremost, tenor Ryan Townsend Strand is committed to the art of gathering together to listen to stories that both connect and inspire. Learn more about Strand here.
Gallery
Look. Hear. Learn. Enter the gallery here.
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest form of appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”
— John F. Kennedy