Inter Alia: North Carolina Forests
In an unprecedented collaboration, the UNCSA Symphony Orchestra and the Wake Forest University Symphony Orchestra performed together in a free side-by-side concert at Brendle Recital Hall on the campus of Wake Forest University.
Conducted by J. Aaron Hardwick, the program featured Jean Sibelius’s radiant Symphony No. 3 in C Major and the world premiere of “Inter Alia,” a new work for soprano and orchestra by composer David Kirkland Garner. Based on a newly-commissioned poem of the same name by Ishion Hutchinson — a 2023 T.S. Eliot Prize finalist — the piece explores tree species native to Western North Carolina, including on the campus of Wake “Forest.” Soprano Jodi Burns from the UNCSA School of Music faculty joins the orchestras in this unique collaboration, showcasing students from both institutions in a powerful celebration of nature, music and creative partnership.
A message from J. Aaron Hardwick:
"Inter Alia" was more than a performance; it was a shared act of creation, rooted in community, curiosity, and care. The concert itself was extraordinary: the Wake Forest University Symphony Orchestra and UNCSA students gave such committed, nuanced performances; Jodi Burns’ luminous soprano voice carried David Kirkland-Garner’s stunning score with both power and tenderness; and Ishion Hutchinson’s poetry and reading grounded the evening in reflection and wonder. Together, these elements intertwined to form something larger than any one of us; a true testament to what collaboration can make possible. As a conductor and artist, I’ve come to believe that collaboration is the lifeblood of the performing arts; and yet, it’s rarely tidy. In "Inter Alia," as in our broader series Paving the Way, we intentionally embrace the messiness, the humility, the unknown. We reach across disciplines. True collaboration asks us to branch out. It asks us to listen, to risk vulnerability, and to say “Help me see that from your world.” When we blur boundaries between art forms, institutions, and ideas, we amplify not only our music, but our impact. We build meaning. We build relevance. We build bridges. This project has reminded me again that when we invite in new voices and perspectives, we don’t just make art, we make community.
—J. Aaron Hardwick: Director & Conductor, Wake Forest University Symphony Orchestra
Poetry Reading in Hanes Art Gallery
Acclaimed poet Ishion Hutchinson visited Wake Forest University's campus in the spring of 2025 and composed a new poem based on the trees he experienced there. Ishion read his new poem, "Inter Alia: North Carolina Trees," along with a selection of his other work in Hanes Art Gallery, surrounded by the artwork of Rudy Shepherd and Molly Kaderka.
The reading and discussion was hosted by Dr. Julie Velasquez Runk and Environment and Sustainability Studies.
© photos by Nick Fantasia
Movement and Ecology Class
The Fall 2025 Dance & Ecology course, led by Janice Lancaster, brought together students and guest artists for in-class interdisciplinary collaboration. Poet Ishion Hutchinson and composer David Kirkland-Garner joined the class to share their creative processes and actively participate alongside students, who were exploring the intersectionality of ecology with dance, poetry, and music.
© photos by Lyndsie Schlink
Credits:
Wake the Arts photos by Lyndsie Schlink, Nick Fantasia, and Steve Morrison