Sulphur, OK — April 2026 — Audiences of all ages are invited to experience a day of music, storytelling, and nature-inspired performance on May 2, 2026, featuring an engaging musical story program and a world premiere outdoor performance by Dr. Susan Miranda.
The performances will be held at the Travertine Nature Center in Chickasaw National RecreationArea at 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Dr. Susan Miranda is a Fox Products Performing Artist, Executive Director of the Bryan Symphony Orchestra, and Adjunct Professor of Oboe at Dordt University. A performer, educator, and entrepreneur, she is committed to expanding the oboe repertoire and engaging diverse audiences. With over forty premieres in the past decade, she has appeared at conferences of the International Double Reed Society, International Clarinet Association, North American Saxophone Alliance, SHE Festival, and Music by Women. International performances include IDRS Thailand (2023) and ICA Ireland (2024), with an appearance at the 2026 International Duo Symposium in Costa Rica. Her ensembles—Larkspur Reed Trio, Dúo León, and Reed5—support commissioning, outreach, and education.
The afternoon features a musical story geared towards children ages 0–11, but all ages are welcome. Crystal and the Curious Honey Possum, a charming story about curiosity, discovery,and unexpected friendship, will be set to music and read by the author and musician. Set in Australia, the book follows Crystal, a curious honey possum, who forms an unlikely bond with a Christmas beetle. Despite their differences, the two discover a shared love of eucalyptus, illustrating how curiosity and kindness can bridge worlds. The program introduces young audiences to unique Australian wildlife while emphasizing themes of friendship and connection.
Program Schedule
•10:30 a.m.--Chickasaw National Recreation Area, Travertine Nature Center, 1504 NE Perimeter Road Sulphur, OK 73086 World Premiere performance of Overland by Heather Ellis Koehn
•1:00 p.m. --Storytime Performance, Travertine Nature Center, 1504 NE Perimeter Road
Sulphur, OK 73086 Overland reflects upon the rich history of a path shaped by time, memory, and movement. Inspired by the Oklahoma segment of the Butterfield Overland Mail Route, the piece traces the evolution of a single path across changing eras. The fixed electronic track unfolds as a sequence of sonic environments: footsteps in the present, the natural landscape of wind and birds, the gradual emergence of human activity through horses and wagons, and finally the distant arrival of the train—marking the obsolescence of the trail as a primary connection between America’s East and West.
The solo oboe represents a lone traveler moving through this landscape, reminiscing upon its past and listening to the echoes of those who have previously taken this journey. Its musical language emerges from breath and air, gradually forming fragments of melody that expand and dissolve, as if the memories are fleeting and imperfect.
Rather than depicting a literal journey, Overland explores how place holds memory and how traces of what once was remain embedded in the present—audible only to those who pause to listen.
Please feel free to bring a lawn chair or stand throughout the 3040 minute program.
Additional information about the National Park Project can be found at: www.susanmiranda.com/nationalparkproject This project is generously funded by Mid-America Arts Alliance, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the state arts agencies of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Additional support is provided by Fox Products, Chickasaw National Recreation Area, and the National Park Service.
Media Contact: Susan Miranda Oboist susanmirandaoboe@gmail. com 952-393-3534 www.susanmiranda.com
