Cherokee Composer Anjelica Lindsey to make Symphonic Debut at Good Medicine Indigenous Music Festival in Houston, Texas
Cherokee Composer Anjelica Lindsey to Make Symphonic Debut at Good Medicine Indigenous Music Festival
Festival appearances include orchestral debut, composition masterclass, and premieres of new Cherokee-language works
Good Medicine Indigenous Music Festival 2026, Houston, Texas
HOUSTON, TX —The Good Medicine Indigenous Music Festival returns for its second year on October 2–3, 2026, bringing together Indigenous composers, performers, artists, educators, and community members for two days of concerts, masterclasses, cultural exchange, and artistic celebration.
Founded by Mvskoke and Yuchi composer, multi-instrumentalist, and educator Aryn Ward, the festival was created to increase visibility for Indigenous musicians and composers while fostering meaningful connections between Native and non-Native communities through the power of music.
This year’s festival will spotlight composer and violinist Anjelica Lindsey (Cherokee Nation) across multiple featured events highlighting orchestral composition, Indigenous language, and contemporary Native music.
Pictured above: Houston Cougar Camerata Symphony Orchestra, Faith Lutheran Church, Houston, Texas
On Friday, October 2, Lindsey will make her symphonic debut with the Houston Cougar Camerata Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Sinfonietta No. I: A Cherokee in Paris. The concert will also include a preview performance of the opening movement of Symphony No. I, Lindsey’s ongoing five-movement work and what is believed to be the first full-scale five-movement symphony written by a Native American woman.
Lindsey’s festival residency continues Saturday, October 3 with a composition masterclass for registered participants exploring artistic process and approaches to contemporary Indigenous composition.
That evening at MATCH Gallery, audiences will hear selections from Oklahoma Woman Quartet, a song cycle for string quartet and voice by Anjelica Lindsey. Featured soloist, soprano Lara Lignitz (Cherokee Nation), will perform three songs in the Cherokee language accompanied by string quartet, marking the premiere of the first three Cherokee-language songs from the cycle.
Pictured above L to R: Soprano Lara Lignitz (Cherokee Nation) and MATCH Gallery, Houston, Texas.
Additional featured artists and composers include Connor Chee (Diné), Sage Bond (Diné), Michael Begay (Diné), and Aryn Ward (Mvskoke/Yuchi), alongside community partners and artists from the American Indian Center of Houston and beyond.
L to R: Good Medicine Festival Founder, Aryn Ward, Connor Chee, Sage Bond, Michael Begay
“Good Medicine is about more than performance,” says Ward. “It is about relationship, language, story, healing, and creating spaces where Indigenous voices are centered, celebrated, and heard. Good Medicine is meant to highlight the vast range of past, present, and future Indigenous music.”
Festival Schedule
Friday, October 2
Opening Concert
Faith Lutheran Church
4600 Bellaire Blvd., Houston, TX
Doors: 6:30 PM
Concert: 7:00 PM
The festival opens with an evening of Indigenous-composed and Indigenous-led music featuring contemporary classical works, original compositions, traditional influences, and creative collaborations.
Built in 1959, Stephen Fox states in the HOUSTON ARCHITECTURAL GUIDE that Faith Lutheran Church is the finest example of architect Travis Broesche`s Frank Lloyd Wright inspired buildings.
Saturday, October 3
Masterclasses, Vendors, and Community Gathering
Faith Lutheran Church
4600 Bellaire Blvd., Houston, Texas
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Festival artists will offer educational masterclasses exploring Indigenous approaches to composition, performance, improvisation, and storytelling. Local artists, makers, and cultural organizations will also be featured through vendor booths and community engagement activities.
Saturday Evening Concert
MATCH Gallery
3400 Main Street, Houston, Texas
Concert: 5:00 PM
Reception: 7:00 PM
The festival concludes with a special concert and reception co-hosted by DiverseWorks, featuring performances by festival artists and the immersive installation Overflow Radio: Sakotayisol Nunnus Constellation.
Festival Partners & Sponsors
The festival is presented in partnership with DiverseWorks, the American Indian Center of Houston, Faith Lutheran Church, GMA Foundations, and other community supporters dedicated to uplifting Indigenous arts and culture.
Tickets
Admission is pay-what-you-can (free with optional donation) but tickets are required.
More information, tickets, and RSVP details are available at:
https://bit.ly/goodmedicine2026
Ticket registration opens in September, 2026.
About Good Medicine
The Good Medicine Indigenous Music Festival is an annual gathering dedicated to amplifying Indigenous voices through music, education, visual arts, language, and community engagement. Through concerts, workshops, collaborations, and cultural programming, the festival creates opportunities for Indigenous artists to share their work while building connections across communities.
Media Contact
Aryn Ward
Founder & Artistic Director
Good Medicine Indigenous Music Festival
Mvskoke Music
arynward4@gmail.com
