What do we mean when we call something "American music"? We can hear part of the answer in NOI+F's opening night performance, with conductor John Morris Russell celebrating his 11 year anniversary with a finely curated exploration of the American experience. Soprano Erica Gabriel, the Gold Medal winner of the American Traditions Vocal Competition, makes her NOI+F debut providing vocals for three immortal works of Americana: the groundbreaking composer Francis Hall Johnson's arrangement of the traditional gospel hymn Ride on King Jesus; a fresh arrangement of Stephen Foster's lyrical lullaby Slumber My Darling; and the Gershwins' Broadway hit and jazz standard, I Got Rhythm. From there, we move to Antonín Dvořak's endlessly popular New World Symphony. Created by the great Czech composer while he was the director of the National Conservatory of Music in America, Dvořak's Symphony No. 9 is beloved in the orchestral music canon and an essential work of the classical genre's evolution. Russell and the orchestra will take you on a lively journey through American history that you won't soon forget!