Berklee Alum and Faculty Perform at Boston Public Library's 250th Anniversary Celebration of the Declaration of Independence

Berklee Alum and Faculty Perform at Boston Public Library's 250th Anniversary Celebration of the Declaration of Independence Professor Regie Gibson and Konstantin Solopov BM '26 wrote and composed pieces for the We Hold These Truths event, also featuring remarks from former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick and Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer.

July 2, 2026

By

Tara Bellucci

Regie Gibson, assistant professor and inaugural Massachusetts poet laureate, with US Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer (left) at We Hold These Truths on June 25, 2026.

Nile Scott Hawver

In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the Associates of the Boston Public Library put on an evening of poetry, music, and reflection. On June 25, We Hold These Truths was held in the library's Rabb Hall and included a composition from Konstantin Solopov BM '26 and a poem from assistant professor and Massachusetts poet laureate Regie Gibson.

In the spring, Solopov won a Songwriting Department competition to compose an original and modern work inspired by the Declaration. The root of his piece, The Republic, is that one idea has connected Americans since 1776: a love of freedom, he says. The Moscow-born composer who grew up in Cyprus says he created the trio for piano, violin, and drums by combining my classical music background with what I have learned and been surrounded by at Berklee for five years.

Left to right: Konstantin Solopov BM '26 (piano), Alexander Castile BM '24 (drums), Maximilian Ellis (violin) performing Solopov's piece, The Republic at We Hold These Truths on June 25, 2026.

Nile Scott Hawver

For inspiration, I was mostly listening to jazz, rock, and folk, the genres that in my opinion represent the roots and the music culture of America, says Solopov. Folk traditions reflect storytelling and cultural roots, jazz embodies individuality and innovation, and rock captures energy and independence. Just like in real life, the interaction throughout the piece symbolizes the freedom of expression that has continually shaped American culture.

Former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick and US Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer read from the Declaration of Independence in between performances by New England Conservatory; the Handel and Haydn Youth Choir; Gibson's poem, A Redacted Declaration: A How-To Course in the Coarsing of Human Events (AKA: How to Black-Out Independence); and Solopov's The Republic.

Watch We Hold These Truths on YouTube:

At the event, Solopov played piano, along with Berklee student Maximilian Ellis on violin and alum Alexander Castile BM '24 on drums. He says the performance was surreal . . . It was just an absolutely unique and incredible feeling. I let go of the idea of simply performing' . . . and instead became one with each note.

Image courtesy of Kostantin Solopov

The film and media scoring/game and interactive media scoring grad wrote his first composition for piano at 16, and then knew music was the path for him. As a cinephile, Solopov fell in love with screen scoring, and after realizing some of his favorite film and game composers, like Alan Silvestri, Howard Shore, and Pinar Topak, went to Berklee, he was so concentrated and determined to get into Berklee.

Solopov has some words of wisdom for current students: I want to encourage those who may feel lost or confused in the realm of music to really press into the resources that Berklee has to offer-especially the professors and advisors! He adds: Never take for granted the quirky, amazing friendships that will arise from the classroom.

You can follow Solopov on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Tara Bellucci is Berklees director of content strategy. She has been a writer, editor, and digital media consultant for over a decade.

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