Worth Fighting For reflects Director Keith’s hope of inspiring the reflection and community of audience members in the creation of this performance. Through music, she advocates for the continuous nurturing and representation of community, human nature, and earth. Director Keith piece selection highlights how cultures have found community and connection in music. Pieces like “Freedom” showcase how humans fight to understand and express their identities. “There’s a Village in My Sneakers” demonstrates how humans have comforted themselves and others through love and support. Worth Fighting For combines the historical significance of music with the pressing importance of maintaining resilience in our “fights.” This combination illuminates Director Keith’s desire to inspire the motivation, urge, and pursuit of what we ought to fight for.  

The orchestra concert incorporated both well-known and niche pieces, which allowed exposure of new musicality to audience members, while also providing familiarity. One example of a well known piece is “Finlandia,” which is often referred to as the unofficial national anthem of Finland. The title of this song immediately asserts the context to the audience, and allows for the audience to have an easier approach to the music. The context of  “Finland” is set, and the observer can sincerely grapple with the song’s honing ideas of oppression, justice, and freedom. On the contrary, “There’s a Village in My Sneakers” requires more active participation in order to uncover its intention. This piece, not the title, encourages the recognition of the communities that support us and pushes us to fight for them. The less direct title heartens Director Keith’s goal of reflection. Her choice of pieces, and her arguments about them, formulate her goal of encouraging humans to care about the things worth fighting for. 

Each piece proposed a challenge for audience members to contextually understand the type of fight being encouraged and how its musicality aligns with it. The final call to action is found in the fluctuating rhythm of Davidson College Symphony Orchestra’s adaptation of “Bella Ciao.” The entire program implanted ideas of what’s worth fighting for, but “Bella Ciao” implanted ideas of what can happen when we do fight. The performance became more compelling each time it sped up. The quickness and strength was prevailing, and it felt impossible for any conviction that arose from previous pieces to remain stagnant. The evening of orchestra works built compulsion in fighting for the things we care about, but the performance would not be worthwhile without the final push to manifest compulsion into action. It is imperative that the potential for action and change is not wasted. Although it is ultimately each person’s choice to pursue action, I believe the majority of people in the audience left Duke Family Performance Hall cognizant that community and earth are Worth Fighting For.