THE STORY

Cradled by Grace is a feature-length documentary that traces the creation of a groundbreaking, genre-defying concerto born from the musical friendship between Austin-based composer Sam Lipman and renowned jazz trumpeter Ephraim Owens. Written as a tribute to Ephraim, the original work is designed to culminate in a historic two-night performance with the Austin Symphony Orchestra—bringing jazz and classical traditions together on a single stage.

Set amidst Austin’s vibrant music culture and community, the film explores how artists across genres collaborate in a city that celebrates live performance while often keeping its musical communities siloed. As rehearsals unfold, differences in musical language, process, and tradition give way to moments of tension, discovery, and creative exchange—revealing through the lens the possibilities that emerge when distinct artistic worlds meet.

Midway through the journey, the project takes an unexpected turn when Ephraim is diagnosed with heart failure. As the performance approaches, the concerto becomes more than an artistic milestone—it transforms into a meditation on friendship, identity, creative complexity and  resilience. And the idea that sometimes spirituality of music is able to hold us through life’s most uncertain passages.

At once intimate and expansive, Cradled by Grace is a story about collaboration across boundaries, the cultural fabric of Austin’s music scene, and the grace required to carry artists from creative inspiration to performance.