The Music of Muses
Sunday, April 12, 2026 at 4:00PM
Piedmont Center for the Arts 801 Magnolia Ave, Piedmont, CA 94611The Music of Muses is a poignant program that explores the many forms of inspiration that move artists to create—from divine vision and romantic longing to the beauty of nature, personal loss, and historical legacy. Spanning solo works to chamber ensembles, the concert features music by Reena Esmail, Beethoven, Jennifer Higdon, Bedřich Smetana, Anton Webern, and Juan Pablo Contreras. Each piece is guided by a distinct muse: the Hindu concept of darshan, a secret love, misty Appalachian landscapes, a child lost too soon, and three iconic Mexican women whose lives shaped a nation. Together, these works offer a deeply human meditation on creativity, memory, and the transformative power of artistic devotion.
Reena Esmail
Darshan
Ludwig van Beethoven
Für Elise
Jennifer Higdon
Blue Hills of Mist
Bedřich Smetana
Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 15: III. Finale
Anton Webern
Langsamer Satz
Juan Pablo Contreras
Musas Mexicanas
About the Artists
Juan Pablo Contreras
Juan Pablo Contreras is a three-time Latin GRAMMY®-nominated composer known for blending Western classical and Mexican folk music. His works have been performed by over 60 orchestras worldwide, including at Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and the Hollywood Bowl. He is renowned as the first Mexican-born composer to sign a record deal with Universal Music, to serve as Sound Investment Composer for Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and to win the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise.