On Dissonance is centered on the transformative impact of Black women in orchestral and operatic music. The full orchestra performance is a tribute to their enduring contributions to classical music.

The evening features works by the esteemed late composer and educator Julia Perry, alongside symphonic compositions by Tania León and Solange Knowles. Musicians from the Houston Symphony will perform under the baton of Jeri Lynne Johnson, founder and Artistic Director of Philadelphia’s Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra, with soprano Zoie Reams featured.

The title of the program nods to Perry’s Homunculus C.F., written in 1960 in Akron, Ohio. Scored for harp, celesta or piano, and eight percussionists, the piece reflects her early innovations in minimalism, preceding many of the genre’s more widely recognized works.

In alignment with Saint Heron’s mission to uplift the legacies of Black women creators, the performance features Knowles’ Not Necessarily In Arms Reach and Villanelle For Times, alongside Tania León’s vibrant symphonic work - each offering a bold reimagining of classical form and voice.