Science-Based Books in Rhyme and Critter Adventure Stories, PLUS Workbooks & Activity Sheets that Make Learning Fun! Dismiss

My Musical Journey Through the National Parks

As a scientist and musician, I love it when my two passions combine. I’ve had good experiences in the past with composers creating original compositions for the women’s chorus I sang with, the AZ Women’s Chorus. So, when the artistic director of the Tucson Masterworks Chorale (TMC), Luke Diamond, expressed his desire to compose choral works inspired by national parks, I was immediately eager to help out.

I had the privilege of having parents who loved to travel by travel trailer. Every year, we would load into the IH Travelall and head out to explore the US and Canada. As a result of my dad’s love of driving and my mom’s expert planning and navigational skills, I had visited most of the national parks before I graduated from high school. I continued in the traveling tradition long after I was out on my own.

A Symphony for America’s 250th Anniversary

The sixty-three National Parks are crucial for preserving the unique environments, history, and cultures of the United States. Recognizing their value and importance, I was delighted to help in the planning and funding of a very exciting project for the 2025-2026 season.

In honor of the USA’s 250th anniversary, TMC, with help from sponsors, is creating a musical homage to the parks, composed specifically for the chorale. The piece, titled “Breathing in the Awe,” will have its world premiere in Tucson in the Spring of 2026.

At a time when resources are diminishing for our National Parks, Artistic Director Luke Diamond has given a voice to nine of them which he has visited. By composing individual songs, he shares his experiences and reminds people of the importance of each park’s existence.

The initial ten compositions include a Park Prologue and nine pieces inspired by these initial, diverse parks:

Yosemite National Park, California
New River Gorge National Park, West Virginia
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
Saguaro National Park, Arizona
Acadia National Park, Maine
Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
Badlands National Park, South Dakota
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

The pièce de résistance will be the tour to parks in California, sharing some of the works and, perhaps, even collaborating with another chorus in performing the music outside of the Tucson area.

TMC: Serving the Community Since 1949

TMC is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that has been bringing high-quality musical performances to the Tucson community since 1949. The chorale offers two performance seasons each year with a variety of masterworks from classical favorites to contemporary compositions. Their mission is to be accessible to singers and audience members from all walks of life, to grow musically, and to encourage cultural participation in our community.

The works will be premiered here in Tucson next spring. I hope you’ll be able to come be part of this celebration in person. The group usually has around 100 talented community singers who will create a rich vocal blend—an experience not to be missed.

A Project Worthy of Our Parks

We are seeking support in the form of sponsorships to bring this composition to life next spring as well as creating a professional recording. Your support helps fund the world premiere of a unique original concert and the creation of a recorded album of “Breathing in the Awe”.

The final product will be a professional recording made in a professional sound studio, worthy of being shared and enjoyed again and again.

If you’d like to have “skin in the game” and join this adventure, here are the available sponsorship levels. You can also sponsor the composition of your favorite National Park for $1,000.

PINNACLE LEVEL – $25,000: This level includes a sponsorship banner displayed at three concert seasons (Spring 2026, Fall 2026, and Spring 2027), business or foundation name on the TMC website for all three seasons, 25 free tickets to all three seasons, logo and business information listed in all concert programs, a full-page ad in concert programs, and business information included on the recording’s album notes.
MOUNTAIN LEVEL – $16,000: Includes a sponsorship banner displayed at three concert seasons, name on the TMC website for all three seasons, 16 free tickets to all three seasons, logo and business information listed in all concert programs, a full-page ad in concert programs, and business information included on the recording’s album notes.
WATERFALL LEVEL – $8,000: Includes a sponsorship banner displayed at Spring 2026 and Fall 2026 concerts, name on the TMC website for the Spring and Fall 2026 seasons, 8 free tickets to three seasons, logo and business information listed in all Spring and Fall 2026 concert programs, a full-page ad in the Spring and Fall 2026 programs, and business information included on the recording’s album notes.
RIVER LEVEL – $4,000: Includes a sponsorship banner displayed at Spring 2026 and Fall 2026 concerts, name on the TMC website for the Spring and Fall 2026 seasons, 4 free tickets to three seasons, logo and business information listed in all Spring and Fall 2026 concert programs, a full-page ad in the Spring and Fall 2026 programs, and business information included on the recording’s album notes.
CANYON LEVEL – $1,000: Includes a sponsorship banner displayed at the Spring 2026 concert, 6 free tickets to Spring 2026 performances, company logo and business information listed in the Spring 2026 concert program, and a full-page ad for your business in concert programs.
LAKE LEVEL – $500: Includes business name on display at the Spring 2026 concert, 4 free tickets to Spring 2026 performances, company logo and business information listed in the Spring 2026 concert program, and a full-page ad for your business in concert program.
FOREST LEVEL – $350: Includes business name on display at the Spring 2026 concert, 2 free tickets to Spring 2026 performances, company logo and business information listed in the Spring 2026 concert program, and a full-page ad for your business in concert program.
CACTUS LEVEL – $150: Includes company logo and business information listed in the Spring 2026 concert program and a half-page ad for your business in concert program.

Become a Sponsor and Share the Awe!

Invest in art and conservation by becoming a sponsor of the Tucson Masterworks Chorale’s National Parks project!

To learn more about all sponsorship levels and the TMC mission, please visit the Tucson Masterworks Chorale website or contact us directly: Sponsor@TucsonMasterworksChorale.org

To learn about our latest science-based children’s books and workbooks, to read our latest blog posts about reptiles, birds, cats, and gardening, in a variety of locations, and about how the books come to be, what inspires an author to write, and many more interesting aspects of the publishing business, fill in the box below and we will add you to our email list.
Thank you!