QPORIT

 

Sadly, yesterday, at the age of 93, the world lost a distinguished artist and writer and an incredible human being, Faith Ringgold.  

 

Several years ago, the JCC Thurnauer School of Music commissioned Rob Kapilow, a composer, music lecturer and their Artist in Residence, to compose a major work for orchestra and chorus inspired by Faith Ringgold’s children’s book We Came to America and by the spirit of her words, “We Came to America, every color, race, and religion from every country in the world.” 

 

We Came to America in Faith’s words is dedicated to all the children who come to America, may they find peace, freedom and prosperity in their new home. May we welcome them and inspire them to sustain a love and dedication to peace, freedom, and justice for all.

 

The breadth of the Thurnauer “We Came To America”  project integrates community outreach, explores and celebrates diversity, and strives to promote inclusive and equitable educational opportunities through the transformative power of music. 

 

The official launch of the project was the World Premiere performances of this work in January at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark and the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown, with the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, and Ember Choral Arts joining the Young Peoples Chorus at Thurnauer and the New Jersey Symphony.

 

The project includes concerts, as well as an educational curriculum and music that has components for students at every level.

 

Today, Sunday April 14, as part of Thurnauer’s “We Came to America” themed year, there will be a chamber music concert (in-person & online), with Sharon Roffman and other distinguished chamber music artists, featuring music by composers Dvorak, Weill, Berlin, and Stravinsky. who immigrated to America.

This concert will be dedicated to Faith Ringgold and the extraordinary accomplishments of her life.

 

 

 

Here are some links to Faith Ringgold’s story:

 

FAITH RINGGOLD – THE NEW YORK TIMES

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/13/arts/faith-ringgold-dead.html

 

FAITH RINGGOLD – WIKIPEDIA

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faith_Ringgold

 

MORE FAITH RINGGOLD LINKS

https://www.google.com/search?q=FAITH+RINGGOLD

 

Links to the Thurnauer “WE CAME TO AMERICA” project:

 

THURNAUER CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT April 14, 2024:

IMMIGRANT COMPOSERS

https://www.jccotp.org/event/chamber-music/

 

THE THURNAUER “WE CAME TO AMERICA” PROJECT

https://www.jccotp.org/event/we-came-to-america-2024/

 

THURNAUER “WE CAME TO AMERICA” PROJECT VIDEO

https://vimeo.com/895906383/

 

 

Labels: Berlin, Dvorak, Faith Ringgold, immigration, Sharon Roffman, Stravinsky, Thurnauer School of Music, We Came To America, Weill

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Leonard Bernstein's birth.  The music he wrote and conducted, and the musical legacy of his programs for young people, and his many other contributions to the development of the American music scene continue to reverberate.

This year there will be many celebrations of his work:


Tonight and this weekend, Sharon Roffman is performing Bernstein's SERENADE, After Plato's Symposium, with the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Michael Stern (whose father, Isaac Stern, premiered the piece in its original, first performance)!

link:
KANSAS CITY ORCHESTRA Celebration of Leonard Bernstein
http://tickets.kcsymphony.org/single/eventDetail.aspx?p=11598



Sharon has created a website to illuminate the piece:

link:
THE BERNSTEIN SERENADE, After Plato's Symposium
http://sharonroffman.com/bernsteinserenade/
http://sharonroffman.com





The Thurnauer School of Music, at the Kaplen JCC On The Palisades, is devoting their annual charity event for music scholarships, The Gift of Music Gala, to a celebration of Bernstein's music, with performances by their noted children's choir and singer Naomi Louisa O'Connell. It will be a family event, on Sunday Feb 11.

link:
GIFT OF MUSIC - 2018
https://www.wizevents.com/register/landing.php?id=5676
http://www.jccotp.org/thurnauer


link:
LEONARD BERNSTEIN ON WIkIPEDIA
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Bernstein

Labels: Bernstein's Serenade, Kansas City Symphony, Leonard Bernstein, Michael Stern, Plato, Plato;s Symposium, Sharon Roffman, Thurnauer School of Music