Legacy of Light
In tribute to Michael Tilson Thomas and the Spirit of American Music

Matthew Salvaggio, conductor
Kira McGirr, narrator

Location: Disciples Christian Church, 3663 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland Heights

Program:

Michael Tilson Thomas: From the Diary of Anne Frank

 Kira McGirr, narrator

Aaron Copland: Appalachian Spring

Noted for the richness of her voice, and “clear, focused sound,” mezzo-soprano Kira McGirr is a dynamic and versatile vocalist, equally at home as a soloist and collaborator, whose repertoire spans from the Baroque to contemporary cutting-edge compositions. Ms. McGirr has been featured as soloist in Elgar’s Sea Pictures; Handel’s Messiah; Mozart’s Requiem and Coronation Mass; Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and Mass in C Major, Op. 86; JS Bach’s BWV 166; Britten’s Ceremony of Carols and Rejoice in the Lamb; and Corigliano’s Fern Hill among many other works.

Highlights for the 2025/26 season include solo debuts with the Lexington Bach Festival (Bach Magnificat), Heights Chamber Orchestra (Larsen Raspberry Island Dreaming), The Cleveland Women’s Orchestra (Elgar Sea Pictures) and the Musical Theater Project (Nettie in Carousel), and return solo engagements with Cleveland Repertory Orchestra (Tilson Thomas From the Diary of Anne Frank), and Perrysburg Symphony Orchestra (Patriotic Pops). She is a frequent collaborator with Local4Music in their series featuring the work of living female and female-identifying composers.

Ms. McGirr sings with Apollo’s Fire Baroque Orchestra as well as the Cleveland Chamber Choir, Trinity Cathedral Choir, and Schola Cantorum Lorain. Ms. McGirr is the Executive Director of the Cleveland Chamber Choir. She holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Oberlin College & Conservatory. kiramcgirrmezzo.com