A four-part all-access digital series that follows chart-topping American pianist and NPR creator Lara Downes on an American journey to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States. Lara’s Declaration Project is an invitation across the nation to explore and express individual visions of “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”, as we reimagine the American future together. She travels to diverse regions of the country, gathering together American communities to find common ground in exploring the core essence of our founding promise as expressed through the sounds and stories of American music.Renowned pianist Lara Downes marks the 250th anniversary of the United States by gathering together American communities to find common ground in exploring the core essence of our founding promise: the unalienable rights of “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

Episode 1: PHILADELPHIA, PA

Lara visits our nation’s founding city as a guest artist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, working with middle school students in West Philadelphia to rehearse and performance of My Days Have Been So Wondrous Free, credited as “the first American song” and composed in 1759 by the Philadelphia-born Francis Hopkinson, a founding father and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Lara also collaborates with multiple Grammy-award winning bassist Christian McBride, a Philadelphia native, on their own reimagination of this early American song, and she discusses its origin story with scholar and author John McWhorter, also a native Philadelphian.

Episode 2: DETROIT, MI

Lara visits the Motor City as a guest artist of the Detroit Symphony and the Detroit Institute of Arts. She works with families at the Detroit Coalition on Temporary Shelter (COTS) facility to share reflection and expression on the concepts of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. She collaborates with Detroit native Lizzo on a performance of the civil rights-era anthem I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to be Free, and discusses the history of musical protest with musician, scholar, author and filmmaker Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson.

Episode 3: KNOXVILLE, TN

Lara visits the Smoky Mountains as a guest artist of the Big Ears Festival, the Knoxville Symphony and Loghaven Artist Residency. She works with clients at Knoxville’s Metro Drug Recovery Gateways Program to share reflection and expression on the concepts of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”.  She is joined in a performance of Amazing Grace with Nashville-based banjo virtuoso Bela Fleck. And Lara discusses the origin story of this old song about redemption and faith with the Tennessee-based American historian and author Jon Meacham.

Episode 4: SEATTLE, WA

Lara visits Seattle as a guest artist of the Seattle Symphony and Meany Center for the Performing Arts, working with clients of the Abundance of Hope Center (a nonprofit serving youth of color and LGBTQIA+ individuals) to share reflection and expression on the concepts of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. She collaborates with legendary baritone Thomas Hampson, a Spokane native, in a performance of Aaron’s Copland’s setting of the traditional American song At the River, and she discusses the history of this Civil War-era song with historian and NPR host Steve Inskeep.