Rowan University’s Marie Rader Series “Life & Liberty” Season Continues with Exploration of America’s History Through the Lens of its Music
Lara Downes and Rhiannon Giddens in Musical Conversation with Sounds Like America Performance
Rowan University’s Marie Rader Series “Life & Liberty” Season Continues with Exploration of America’s History Through the Lens of its Music
(GLASSBORO, NJ) – Renowned pianist, NPR host and thought leader Lara Downes and Pulitzer Prize and Grammy Award-winning singer Rhiannon Giddens present a unique program of live music and conversation at Rowan University. The Marie Rader Series presents Sounds Like America, Friday, October 30 at 7:30 p.m. in Pfleeger Concert Hall.
Ticket prices range from $10-$35 and are available at go.rowan.edu/america.
In a musical conversation developed for her NPR series, America in Pursuit, Lara Downes presents a unique program of live music and conversation with multi-instrumentalist and cultural historian Rhiannon Giddens.
This program of music and conversation will reflect on the roots and routes of American music, and the crossroads where traditions come together. Exploring our nation’s story through its music, Downes and Giddens share iconic songs from Amazing Grace to Paul Simon’s American Tune, tracing our history and celebrating our shared hopes and struggles.
Leading up to this public event, Downes will visit Rowan’s Glassboro campus to engage University students across a variety of subjects in her national initiative The Declaration Project, which invites us to reflect on the many experiences of being and becoming American, and to actively reimagine the potential of our future.
The Declaration Project engages multi-generational communities through round-table conversations, generative writing workshops, and collaborative creative practice to encourage civic engagement and community dialogue. For over two years, the project has collected submissions from individuals across the nation, resulting in a national digital archive. A selection of submissions from Rowan students will be featured in the October 30th program.
Closed Captioning is available at this performance in addition to our standard accommodations.
The Marie Rader Series continues its 2026-27 “Life & Liberty” season with an emphasis on singular African American musicians, choreographers and stories. Complementing the nationwide commemoration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, through a range of programs for multi-generational audiences, it offers a year-long invitation to reflect on our shared histories and how we can envision a shared future. The Rowan University’s Marie Rader Series is thankful for the support of New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), as part of their commitment to celebrating arts in education.
Upcoming performances in 2027 include:
Dee Dee Bridgewater and Bill Charlap
Sunday, January 31, 2027
3:00 PM | Pfleeger Concert Hall
Ticket prices: $35 / $25 / $10
Ticket link: go.rowan.edu/deedee
American Street Dancer
Rennie Harris Puremovement American Street Dance Theater
Saturday, February 20, 2027 @ 7:30 PM | Pfleeger Concert Hall
Sunday, February, 21, 2027 @ 2:00 PM | Pfleeger Concert Hall
Ticket prices: $35 / $25 / $10 / FREE for 12 and under
Ticket link: go.rowan.edu/RHPM
The Snowy Day and Other Stories by Ezra Jack Keats
a Childsplay Production
Sunday, March 14, 2027
1:00 PM & 4:00 PM | Pfleeger Concert Hall
Ticket prices: $30 / $20 / FREE for 12 and under
Ticket link: go.rowan.edu/snowyday
ABOUT THE MARIE RADER SERIES
The Marie Rader Series is a curated, mission-driven program that uplifts the cultural landscape of the Greater Southern New Jersey Region. Because of the Marie Rader Series, performing arts lovers throughout New Jersey don’t have to travel to New York or Philadelphia. Focused on artistic integrity and inclusion, the series provides public presentations, community outreach, and coaching for students that reflect the innovation and quality consistent with Rowan University’s overall standards of high achievement and transformation.
Concessions will be available for purchase at all performances. Pfleeger Concert Hall is a wheelchair accessible venue. For assistance contact Rowan University’s College of the Arts Box Office via [email protected] or 856-256-4545.
The series is made possible in part through generous support from the Henry M. Rowan Family Foundation via the Marie Rader Memorial Fund and through funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
