Songs of the Chickasaws

Premiered February 28 and March 1, 2026

@ the Checkout in Chicago, IL

About songs of the Chickasaws

Composed by Brandi Berry Benson, Songs of the Chickasaws is a series of five chamber works, each about a dynamic Chickasaw who had a profound impact on the Chickasaw Nation:

Tishu Miko - the fierce but compassionate warrior chief who led his people to Indian Territory after the forced removal from their homelands. Tishu Miko received a silver medal from George Washington for his military accomplishments, and fought alongside General Major Andrew Jackson only to be betrayed by Jackson in the passing of the Indian Removal Act in 1830.

Governor Jonas Wolfe - the stoic leader of "rugged integrity" who humorously tests a young man to see if he is worthy to marry one of his daughters.

Lushanya - also known as the Songbird of the Chickasaws, “Tessie” Mobley or Lushanya was the first native prima donna to debut at La Scala in Italy, and toured Europe with great acclaim despite Hitler and Mussolini rising to power.

"Sadie" Humes - the co-author of the first Chickasaw dictionary despite struggling to learn English has her second language in school as a young child.

Jesse Lindsey - an elder and culture keeper of the Chickasaw Nation, especially known for his flute playing. He taught Chickasaws today about their ancestors’ traditions. This piece combines the origin story of how the flute came to the Chickasaw people with his own story of how the flute was brought to him.