Aug. 28—The following is an edited transcript of the opening portion of a presentation given by John Sigerson, music director of the Schiller Institute–U.S.A. and of the Schiller Institute NYC Chorus, on the Aug. 21 Friday Symposium, hosted by Diane Sare, independent candidate for U.S. President. The video is available here, and readers are encouraged to listen to the full presentation.

The discussion took place as Maestro Sigerson is preparing to conduct Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in New York City on Sept. 11, with a 60-piece orchestra and full chorus from the Schiller Institute NYC Chorus. Information about that performance, and how to register to attend—both in-person and online—is available here.

The event in Manhattan will at the same time celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, and commemorate the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, remembering those lives lost then and later, and those who responded selflessly to that terrorist attack. The Fire Department of the City of New York will conduct the honor guard for the concert.

Appropriately, Beethoven’s Ninth is being performed in many U.S. locations this 250th anniversary year. The Colorado Orchestra will do it Sept. 11 and 13 in Denver. In March, the Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra performed it in three cities. The National Symphony Orchestra and The Washington Chorus performed it on August 14 outside Washington, D.C., where conductor Gianandrea Noseda participated in a pre-concert lecture on the inspiring impact of the American Revolution internationally.