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Standing under full moon
Silhouetted figure standing on a lunar ridge beneath a glowing full Moon, evoking the emotional finale of THE MOONS SYMPHONY.

A musical odyssey inspired by the outer Solar System

THE MOONS SYMPHONY fuses music and science to bring lunar exploration vividly to life through cinematic visuals and orchestral storytelling.

Inspired by astronauts’ profound perspectives, this symphonic journey reimagines our place in the cosmos and culminates in a powerful tribute to Earthrise.

 

Set to premiere globally, THE MOONS SYMPHONY will transform

concert halls, open-air arenas, and planetariums with a

universal message for Earth and beyond.

Created by Amanda Lee Falkenberg

Logo for THE MOONS SYMPHONY by Amanda Lee Falkenberg, featuring stylized lunar phases embedded in the text.

New Worlds to Explore

Hear their stories

Discover their secrets

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Welcome to the World of THE MOONS SYMPHONY

Listen to how music, science, and space unite in a story that spans the solar system.

Chicago Symphony

Ravinia Music Magazine wrote:


“Sometimes an idea is so inspired, so perfect, you have to wonder: How did this not exist before? → Now there’s a new work of genius to elevate into this class:

THE MOONS SYMPHONY composed by Amanda Lee Falkenberg”

Placing THE MOONS SYMPHONY alongside the revolutionary artistry of

Mozart’s Don Giovanni and the cinematic impact of The Wizard of Oz.​

​★★★★★ 

Photo: Patrick Gipson

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the story behind the music

What happens when a composer, a symphony orchestra, and a team of
planetary scientists unite around one question

 
What if the moons could speak?

​​THE MOONS SYMPHONY is the result of this bold collaboration. A visionary work of music inspired by the real science of our solar system’s most enigmatic moons.

 

Conceived by award-winning composer Amanda Lee Falkenberg, this multi-movement symphony brings together NASA data, cinematic visuals, and choral grandeur to awaken a deeper curiosity about the universe.

Falkenberg’s journey began not with a telescope, but with a piano

 

Her transition from concert pianist to composer led her from ballet studios and film scoring stages to the heart of cosmic storytelling. With THE MOONS SYMPHONY, she invites

listeners on a voyage through space, science, and the soul.

The Collaborators

Meet the conductor, the scientists, and the astronaut who helped shape this journey

This cinematic piece is the result of a rare collaboration between the worlds of music, space science, and human exploration.


These visionaries helped shape the story you’re about to experience.

Chief Conductor

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One of the world’s leading conductors, Marin brought THE MOONS SYMPHONY to life with the London Symphony Orchestra. Her visionary leadership has been essential to translating the cosmic narrative into powerful musical expression.

Marin Alsop
THE MOONS SYMPHONY
Leads Live Performances

NASA | JPL

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Cassini and Voyager scientist, Dr. Spilker helped shape the scientific narrative of Movement 4 – Enceladus. She has been a guiding force since the project's early days, connecting Amanda to NASA through a pivotal invitation to present at JPL in 2018.

Dr. Linda Spilker
Cassini | Voyager Mission
Titan, Enceladus, Miranda

NASA | JPL

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Europa Clipper Project Scientist, Dr. Pappalardo was Amanda’s first NASA contact in 2017 and an early supporter of the symphony’s concept. His guidance and Europa research underpin the second movement’s story.

Dr. Robert Pappalardo
Europa Clipper Missioin
Europa

NASA | JPL

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Dr. Xianzhe Jia is a mission scientist for both Europa Clipper and JUICE. He advised Amanda on the science of Ganymede, contributing to Movement 6. His insights also featured in Limelight magazine’s special on THE MOONS SYMPHONY.

Dr. Xianzhe Jia
Europa | JUICE Mission
Europa | Ganymede

NASA Astronaut

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Veteran NASA astronaut, aquanaut, and artist, Nicole has been an integral supporter of THE MOONS SYMPHONY since the 50th anniversary of Apollo 8. Her lived experience in space helped shape the emotional heart of the final movement.

Nicole Stott
International Space Station
Earth Moon

Johns Hopkins APL

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Planetary geologist and Principal Investigator of the Dragonfly mission to Titan, Dr. Turtle’s expertise directly informed the third movement. She appeared live in Chicago, joining the cast on stage in celebration of music and planetary exploration.

Dr. Zibi Turtle
Dragonfly Mission
Titan

Imperial College London

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Prof. Michele Dougherty is a leading physicist and Principal Investigator on the Cassini and JUICE missions. Her magnetometer’s detection of a mysterious signal at Enceladus inspired Movement 4. She supported the project’s debut at Imperial College and Chicago.

Prof. Michele Dougherty
Cassini | JUICE Mission
Enceladus

Johns Hopkins APL

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Dr. Ralph Lorenz is a mission architect and planetary scientist whose early work shaped Huygens’ success on Titan. He now plays a key role in Dragonfly’s development, focusing on Titan’s unique environment and drone flight dynamics.

Dr. Ralph Lorenz
Huygen | Dragonfly Mission
Titan

Planetary Radio Society

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As host of Planetary Radio, Mat introduced the symphony to global audiences in 2021. He attended the LSO recording, authored the album sleeve notes, and presented the Ravinia Festival introduction, championing the project from its earliest days.

Mat Kaplan
Public Engagement
Panel Moderator

NASA | JPL

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A volcanologist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Dr. Davies contributed scientific guidance to the symphony’s explosive first movement, Io. His knowledge of tidal heating and lava flow phenomena brought volcanic realism to the score.
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Dr. Ashley Davies
Europa | JUICE Mission
Io

NASA | JPL

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A Voyager mission scientist and spaceflight architect, Dr. Spilker contributed foundational insights to Miranda, the focus of Movement 5. He brought the story to life on stage at Chicago’s Breaking Barriers Festival, supporting the symphony’s message of exploration.

Dr. Thomas Spilker
Voyager | Cassini
Titan | Enceladus | Miranda

Imperial College London

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As Director of Outreach at Imperial College London, Andrew led the first pilot of Amanda’s LUNAR program, attended by 700+ students. His support has been instrumental in positioning the symphony’s educational mission for global impact.

Andrew Tebbutt
Outreach Director
Supporter of LUNAR

THE MOONS SYMPHONY is a beautiful way to express the incredible science returned by missions like Cassini through music and to share that with the public. I found it very moving and inspirational!
 

 

 


Dr. Linda Spilker, Lead Scientist, Cassini and Voyager Mission NASA | JPL

IMPACT

Watch the

▶ Marin Alsop on THE MOONS

conducting experience

▶ Bill Nye introduces

THE MOONS SYMPHONY

Marin Alsop  & Chicago Symphony Orchestra
THE MOONS Symphonic Suite
Ravinia Music Festival - July 2024

Discover
the Genesis

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Reviews

What the world is saying

★★★★★ 
 
This is a real one-off. A fully choral symphony depicting seven moons of our solar system... It succeeds because of (Falkenberg's) skills as a very experienced composer of film music and the extraordinary quality of the performance...

Choir and Organ

Once in a while, a new composition comes along and knock you right off your feet - the emotion, the breadth, the message gets its hooks in you and holds on.”

Limelight Feature 

Megan Stellar 

“Your text must be coherent and have a clear message. That’s what struck me first about Amanda’s writing – she is a very experienced composer and knows how to set words and construct the vocal lines.”

Ben Parry

- Director London Voices

This ambitious project is brought to life by a sizzling LSO and a gutsy London Voices…This is musical painting on an infectiously grand scale

BBC Music Magazine

The thematic elements have a very important part in the structure of the work, and they materialize with timbral beauty and a powerful and coherent expressiveness...

This is a captivating work, an exciting and emotional journey in tonal language, in which the author aspires to make her music serves as a reflection on who we are and where we are..

sonograma

The Moons Symphony immediately invites comparison with Holst's Planets, but it is a different beast: a choral work depicting seven moons with a wide range of behaviours right here in our solar system…“The MOONS SYMPHONY is a wonderfully evocative work that could equally grace concert halls or film scores

Music Files Ltd.

★★★★

Falkenberg’s passionate and creative adaptation of the film music genre is firmly embraced by the committed artistry of the London Symphony under Marin Alsop and the warm cohesion and crystalline diction of the London Voices…The Moons Symphony offers a precious and timely perspective on our own fragile planet that we would do well to heed

Limelight

★★★★½

This is music designed to grab the listener’s attention. It also happens to be right up the alley of conductor Marin Alsop, leading the London Symphony Orchestra and the London Voices; she builds a solid structure and keeps it moving along effectively

All Music

Readthrough more reactions from around the world

Marin Alsop, audience members, and expert collaborators

​Whatever you take away from it is valid. It can be small, it can be a big idea, it can be an awareness that you didn’t have. I just hope people will feel changed by the experience.​ And maybe that’s why the project is so successful. It’s about the greater message and trying to get that across.

 Marin Alsop - Conductor of THE MOONS SYMPHONY 

Standing under full moon
Keneddy Space Centre - Constellation Cre
Kennedy Space Centre
50th Anniversary of Apollo 8 Celebration
Dec 21, 2018 

 NASA ISS Astronaut Nicole Stott 

Abbey Road Studios June 4, 2022

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