Song Projects are the heartbeat of Hampsong. The projects explore the connections between poetry and music, history and culture, research and performance, society and song. Scholars collaborate with performers to illuminate composers’ work from page to stage. Through this work, the Foundation seeks to deepen our understanding of song as the most personal and natural form of human expression and vital for communication in our lives today.

Song Project ComponentsThe goal of each Song Project is to create an enduring cultural legacy and deeper understanding of its subject. The components are inter-related: Performances, Workshops, Exhibitions, and Media resources provide opportunities for public sharing of Commissions and Research. The Song of America ProjectThe "Song of America" project, initially developed by Thomas Hampson in collaboration with the Library of Congress in 2005, and now a program of the Hampsong Foundation, examines connections between poetry, music, history and culture from the perspective of classic song.

Drawing on resources from the Library's unparalleled collection, the project has so far presented two national tours (in 2005-2006 and 2009-2010); independent recitals in 22 states and 13 countries; numerous master classes, exhibitions and broadcasts; the "Song of America" radio series; the web site www.songofamerica.net; and two recordings: Song of America – Music from the Library of Congress and Wondrous Free – Song of America II.
"The 'Song of America' project has been a dream come true for me," says Hampson, "giving me unforgettable opportunities to tour our country while singing the songs born of our life experiences as Americans in the language of our hearts and minds. These songs – our songs – say everything, through the eyes of our poets and the ears of our composers, about the culture we call American. We need these songs in our cultural landscape."read more