ADA, Okla. — When Zach Garcia was asked to write a Chickasaw-inspired symphony for the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) Symphony Orchestra, he was excited for the opportunity. Audiences at East Central University’s (ECU) Ataloa Theatre March 9, 2026, were treated to the world premiere of “Chintaloowali’ (I Sing to You).”
Garcia is a pianist, guitarist, composer, vocalist and Chickasaw citizen. He serves as the performing arts programming coordinator for the Chickasaw Nation Performing and Visual Arts Division, where he oversees the Chickasaw Nation School of Music and regularly composes new symphonic works with Chickasaw Nation partners.
Maestro Alexander Mickelthwate, the Oklahoma City Philharmonic’s conductor and music director, is also an artist in residence at UCO, conducting their symphony orchestra. After many previous collaborations with t h e Chickasaw Nation, Mickelthwate approached Garcia in the summer of 2025, asking him to compose a symphony for his orchestra at UCO. “Chintaloowali'” was the result of these conversations…