“It is an honor to see ‘Hymn for the Hurting’ as a call to mobilize through this musical setting by Brian Field. At every transformational moment in history, poetry and music have been two of the most powerful catalysts, transforming grief into change,” Gorman said per an official press statement. “This performance is not merely an empty reminder—it is a resonant plea for hope, action, and a future free from gun violence. I stand with Everytown for Gun Safety in their crucial work to end this epidemic, because progress, like poetry and music, cannot remain silent.”

Gorman’s poem was written in response to the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvale, Texas in 2022, that took the lives of 19 children and two teachers. It has become a rallying cry for gun violence prevention and activism after its publication in The New York Times.

“When I first read Amanda Gorman’s ‘Hymn for the Hurting’ in the wake of the unfathomable tragedy in Uvalde, the role of art in our collective reckoning became more evident than ever,” Fields noted in response. “Art does not merely stir our emotions—it galvanizes us. It has the power to ignite movements, to shape policy, to demand action. Just 25 miles from my home, Sandy Hook Elementary stands as a haunting reminder of how gun violence is pervasive in our country, impacting individuals, families and entire communities. To collaborate with Amanda and the extraordinary J’Nai Bridges in bringing ‘Everything Hurts’ to life is both a profound honor and an urgent call to bear witness. I am humbled to share its premiere in Nashville.”

The performances at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center will be conducted by Christian Reif. Also on the program are works by Julia Perry, Weill, and Ives. They both have 7:30 p.m. start times.

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