Seth Parker Woods performs cello concerto “Had to Be” at Sala São Paulo

USC Thornton faculty member and Robert Mann Chair in Strings and Chamber Music Seth Parker Woods premiered Nathalie Joachim’s cello concerto Had to Be in South America with the São Paulo Symphony on April 16th, alongside Elena Schwarz and Nathalie Joachim. Had to Be is a dialogue between the musicalities of the African diaspora—aka Afromodernism—written by Joachim for Woods.

In an article about the premiere, Donna Le Davidson wrote, “Joachim’s work weaves dissimilar sights and sounds into enchanting resonances that Woods beautifully channeled through his cello.”

“The audiences in Sao Paulo, as always, have been warm, beautiful and engaging,” says Woods. “Thank you all.”

Read Le Davidson’s work here.

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Featured photo: Nathalie Joachim and Seth Parker Woods with the New York Philharmonic (Photo by Chris Lee).