Midori Larsen—Composer, Educator, Taiko Player, Pianist

Go Chase Your Dreams is a two-part choral piece and music video project centering the stories and messages of immigrant mothers, voiced through their children. This piece was commissioned by Stephen A. Halsey Junior High School 157, a vibrant and diverse school community in Queens, NY. The commission began as an idea between the choral director, Sara Shikowitz, and composer Midori Larsen, a parent of a student in the choral program. The project began with the desire to hear the often-unspoken stories of immigrant mothers whose children and grandchildren go to Halsey and sing in the chorus—stories of leaving home, beginning a new, and raising families in a foreign land. The composer, also an immigrant mother, developed a set of questions for the singers to ask their mothers. Their words and experiences were distilled into a collective narrative, with recurring themes and expressions shaping the lyrics. Some phrases were drawn directly from the mothers’ words, while others were adapted to create a unified and singable text. The result is a song of resilience, empowerment and hope. Special thanks go to the Halsey Parent Teacher Association on for finding this commission. Scheduled to premiere in May 2026 at Halsey JHS 157, the piece will be performed by 150 singers of Halsey Chorus.