Submitted by Joanne De Pue
on
Upper Skagit elder Vi Hilbert (above) commissioned "The Healing Heart of the First People of this Land" in response to the heartbreak of 9/11. The symphony will be performed by the UW Symphony in February 2026, on the 20th anniversary of its world premiere.
By Nancy Joseph, Arts and Sciences News
When the University of Washington Symphony performs “The Healing Heart of the First People of this Land” on February 6, 2026, the performance will hold special meaning for many in the audience — and for musicians on stage. The Healing Heart symphony was commissioned by Coast Salish elder Vi taqʷšəblu Hilbert (Upper Skagit) as a way to heal the world after the heartbreak of 9/11. Though Hilbert passed away in 2008, her presence is felt in every note.