The Grinnell Singers and Al-Bustan Takht Ensemble performed "Embroidered Verses," commissioned for the Crossing Choir, featuring four Arabic Andalusian poems. Composer Kareem Roustom, an Emmy nominee, combines Near Eastern musical traditions with Western influences, receiving global acclaim for his compositions.

Emily Edmonds and Jack Symonds perform "Quatre instants," a profound work by recently passed composer Kaija Saariaho, exploring romantic emotions through evocative music. Saariaho, celebrated for her innovative blend of live performance and electronics, leaves a lasting legacy in contemporary opera and composition.

Jalakamaladala was arranged by Nariman H. Wadia in August 1989, as a birthday gift to his wife, conductor Coomi Wadia. The text is adapted from a traditional Gujarati poem written by Narasimha Mehta in the 15th century. The UW Chorale performed the 2022 U.S. premiere of the piece.

"Violent, Violent Sea," composed by Missy Mazzoli, premiered in 2011 and blends contrasting elements of brightness and dense heaviness. Mazzoli, an acclaimed American composer, has gained recognition for her innovative operas and collaborations with prominent musical institutions and artists worldwide.

The title Silent Ocean suggests serenity of the ocean, images of a pale blue and orange color sky blending the sound of the trumpet. The piece was dedicated to Tanaka's close friend Osamu Kumashiro. Karen Tanaka is renowned for her concert music, film scores, and numerous commissions.

Oceans evokes powerful images of the vast seas surrounding Sigfusdottir's native Iceland. The symphonic work's phrases are long and smooth, yet constantly in motion, like the waves of the ocean. The piece was premiered in January 2019 at Harpa in Reykjavik by the Iceland Symphony Orchestra.

In 1919, Helena Munktell’s orchestral work Breaking Waves premiered in Stockholm, showcasing her pioneering role as a female composer. Blending Swedish and French styles, Munktell's innovative compositions broke barriers, merging traditional melodies with bold, contemporary harmonies. She remains a significant figure in music history.

Sea Sketches is a vibrant suite for string orchestra by Grace Williams, composed in 1944. It features five movements that portray different sea characters, reflecting Williams' Welsh coastal inspirations and emotional depth, becoming one of her most celebrated works.

Stacy Garrop's Mythology Symphony blends ancient narratives with modern orchestral techniques. The work explores themes of myth and transformation across five movements, showcasing emotional depth through instrument interplay, dramatic storytelling, and a distinct human quality, captivating listeners throughout.

This epic work is is a musical depiction of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life: from birth, to adolescence, to adulthood, to his marriage to Coretta Scott, to his missionary work, to his assassination and finally to his afterlife. Undine Moore became the first African American woman composer to earn a Pulitzer Prize nomination for the original score.

Layale Chaker's work "Relentless," inspired by Mohamed al Maghout's poem, blends classical, jazz, and Arabic music. The piece is part of her acclaimed album "Inner Rhyme," which explores Arabic poetry's essence through innovative musical forms and has earned multiple prestigious awards.