News and music to start the week!
Sorry we didn’t post about this sooner! The Dream Unfinished Activist Orchestra presents a live community reading of Fannie Lou Hamer’s 1964 speech, “Sick and Tired,” today, Monday, Aug. 31 at 11:30 AM EST! Sign-up is required. Some amazing members of the music community will be participating (some are pictured). There will be improvisation by bassoonist Monica Ellis, a discussion on women of color as artists and activists with musicologist Dr. Ashley Jackson, and an interview with Donita Judge, Associate Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Rights. Hosted by Jasmine Wilson. TDU advises that this reading contains sensitive subject matter. Please visit this link for more information about Fannie Lou Hamer and her speech.
Conductor Alondra de la Parra leads The Impossible Orchestra — one answer to the question of how to create music in the time of COVID. She brings a star-studded cast together to record a short piece. Read more at DW.com (Deutsche Welle -DW- is Germany’s international broadcaster).
Dalia Stasevska will be the second woman to conduct the famed Last Night of the Proms. Although the event is Sept. 12, she has already come under attack for the decision to perform instrumental-only versions of the traditional anthems Rule Britannia and Land Of Hope And Glory. She and family have received threats and thousands of abusive emails. Stasevska points out that these decisions were all made by the BBC, not her. (More coverage here at the Guardian) But always easier to scapegoat a woman and a foreigner, rather than a vast institution, isn’t it ….
Egypt’s Al Nour Wal Amal Chamber Orchestra – an ensemble made up entirely of blind women musicians – will begin performances once again after taking time off to due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Read more at The Jordan Times.
The Dallas Symphony’s second annual symposium of Women in Classical Music will be held November 8-11 and include online and in-person events. At the official website you can learn more about the upcoming events and register to attend.
The celebration of the 100th anniversary of the passing of the 19th amendment, granting white American women the right to vote, continues! Composer Stacy Garrop penned “The Battle for the Ballot” to commemorate the historic event, featuring and orchestra and narrator. Read more at The Daily Northwestern which interviewed Garrop. She explains that changed the direction and texts of the work in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd. The work was premiered virtually at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music on Aug. 9, watch the premiere here (click on RISING II). You can also watch all 7 open rehearsals of the work!
So much going on! We are always happy to hear from our readers! [email protected]