Peter Boyer and Joe Sohm: American Mosaic
On May 28-30, 2026, Pacific Symphony’s Artistic & Music Director Designate Alexander Shelley will conduct a celebratory concert in honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States. The program includes the West Coast Premiere of American Mosaic, a collaboration between composer Peter Boyer and photographer Joe Sohm. The multimedia experience blends stunning orchestral music, spoken narration, and vibrant 4k video from all 50 states.
American Mosaic was commissioned by leading American orchestras, including Pacific Symphony. There are 18 performances scheduled for this tour, each featuring 11 continuous movements of music and American imagery. Composer Peter Boyer’s catalog of American-themed orchestral works, from his Grammy-nominated Ellis Island to Fanfare for Tomorrow from President Biden’s Inauguration, is acclaimed for its power to uplift and inspire. The score for American Mosaic incorporates passages from Boyer’s existing works, in addition to featuring newly composed music, using a live narrator to deliver powerful, relevant quotes from throughout American history. Sequences employing Sohm’s spectacular 4K video are creatively edited to Boyer’s music, celebrating the land, cities, towns, people, and spirit of the United States for its 250th birthday. “American Mosaic is a musical/visual work that celebrates America’s 250th birthday in what I believe is a unique way,” says Boyer. “With Joe Sohm’s breathtaking video imagery of all 50 states, narration highlighting key aspects of American history, and the emotional power of a great orchestra such as Pacific Symphony, it is hoped that the work will provide audiences with an uplifting experience.”
Watch a Sizzle Reel for American Mosaic
Watch a Profile of Joe Sohm and Peter Boyer
Pacific Symphony has collaborated with Peter Boyer several times, including the filming of Ellis Island: The Dream of America for PBS’ Great Performances. His recording of Ellis Island on the Naxos American Classics label was nominated for a GRAMMY Award for Best Contemporary Classical Composition. His works have received over 900 public performances by more than 300 orchestras. He has also received commissions from many prestigious American ensembles and institutions: the Kennedy Center, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, London’s ORA Singers, and more. Boyer also received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, officially recognized by both Houses of Congress as one of the most prestigious American awards.
Boyer has a unique ability to create anthems that inspire feelings of liberty, unity, bravery, and gratitude. He draws on American history and identity as a foundation for his compositions. His compositions are often embedded in moments of national significance, like Fanfare for Tomorrow for President Biden’s inauguration in 2021. He believes there is a distinct “American sound” in orchestral music, rooted in the traditions of Aaron Copland, Elmer Bernstein, John Corigliano, and many more iconic American composers. Boyer strives to preserve and extend that tradition by creating works that feel both contemporary and connected to a shared national musical heritage.
For over 40 years, Joe Sohm has been conveying the American spirit through a decades-long “Visions of America” project: a photographic journey across all 50 states that blends visual storytelling with cultural and historical context. Sohm captures people, places, and the diversity of the United States in ways that reflect its beauty and resilience. His photography includes both iconic landmarks, landscapes, and ordinary moments that make up the fabric of American life. Even in modest settings, he sees evidence of democracy in action, believing that “what I shot is evidence of democracy working in America.” Sohm sees his photography as a way to preserve and share the American story for future generations, as a celebration and a lesson that invites viewers to see themselves reflected in the nation’s portrait.
Boyer’s compositions, Sohm’s photography, and spoken narration come together to make American Mosaic an inspirational and reflective live orchestral experience. Hear Pacific Symphony perform American Mosaic May 28-30 in Costa Mesa. Get tickets.