About the Piece

Commissioned by the Central Kentucky Youth Orchestras and made possible by the 250Lex Commission, We the People, op. 60 is a new work celebrating the past, present, and future of Lexington through music and poetry in celebration of Lexington, KY's 250th Anniversary. With an original text by Lexington poet Deidra White and music by Seattle-based composer William C. White, this anthem was written for our city—and is brought to life by its youth.

 

An excerpt of the piece was previewed on Sunday, September 7th, 2025 by members of the CKYO Symphony Orchestra and Uniting Voices Lexington (Michael Preacely, director) on the Lexington Philharmonic's 250Lex Concert for Lexington.

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We the People will have its world premiere on Sunday, November 16th, 2025 at the Singletary Center for the Arts at CKYO's 78th Season Opening Concert.  The premiere will feature a 95 piece CKYO Symphony Orchestra plus over 200 high school choir students from Fayette County Public Schools. 

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From the Composer

“This piece is supposed to be an anthem for the city, so I wanted to write music that would be accessible to people from all backgrounds, something that would be memorable, catchy, and that people would leave humming. An anthem should have a certain “stickiness” to it.

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In the middle section of the piece, where the orchestra takes over, I wanted to infuse the music with a bit of Kentucky’s musical traditions and history. The first part of the “orchestral fantasy” is in the style of a Revolutionary War march, a nod to the fact that Lexington was founded in the year 1775. Then there’s a blazing fiddle section, a nod to Kentucky's Bluegrass tradition. Finally when the chorus reenters, they’re singing Gospel harmonies, another important part of the city’s musical heritage.

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Working with Deidra White was great; she was a very giving collaborator, but always stayed true to her vision. Her lyrics are what this piece is all about; she’s a Lexington native who understands the city, its people, its traditions, and its symbols. My goal was to give her words pride of place so that the people of Lexington could hear how one of their native daughters was giving voice to the community.

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I hope everyone who engages with the anthem will recognize the spirit of their city in the words and the music, and leave the concert hall invigorated and inspired.”

~William C. White, composer

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From the Poet

“The original text was a bit more Lexington-centric but after deliberating, the piece shifted to something that evokes the spirit of the Lexington people I know and love. I chose to focus on more recent times and elicit an experience that reminds us of our resilience and how we rally around our community to support one another. I wanted something that did not shy away from our sordid history but acknowledged it (“rights and wrongs”).

 

Lexington is older than the state of Kentucky; it is named for the first battle of the American Revolutionary War (The Battle of Lexington and Concord), and that is important to acknowledge. This pushed me to incorporate language from The Preamble of our Constitution, which begins, "We the People," signifying that the government's authority comes from its citizens; hence, "the Powr's that Be are We, You and I." It was a bold choice, but a necessary one…I hope Lexingtonians feel proud and uplifted by it. I want this piece to be a staunch reminder of who we are to each other as we move forward as a city for the next 250 years.”

~Deidra White, poet

 

 

Read the Text of "We the People" HERE

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