We’ve been following the work of The Dream Unfinished since it was first organized as an activist orchestra in conjunction with the Black Lives Matter movement. Since their first concert this ensemble has worked to use their voices to raise awareness to issues of social justice, as well as bring to light composers whose works have been long ignored on contemporary stages.
Their next concert is titled, Raise Your Hand and will take place on Sunday, June 11 at The Cooper Union in New York City. As with past concerts, the connection to a social justice platform is clear:
RAISE YOUR HAND draws attention to the school-to-prison-pipeline: the increasingly widespread trend of pushing children of color out of schools and into the penal and criminal justice systems.
The concert will include student participation from the Corona Youth Music Project, UpBeat NYC, WHIN Music Project, YOSL from eh Orchestra of St. Luke’s, and the Manhattan Girls Chorus.
Here is a video from The Dream Unfinished sharing more about why this topic is so relevant and important in today’s world:
What is most exciting is that the students will have an opportunity to perform works by composers that they likely have never had the chance to play before. The program includes works by:
Le Chevalier de St-Georges
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
William Grant Still
George Walker
Evan Williams
and Teresa Carreño
I’m only disappointed that the website does not share specific information about what works are being performed! Certainly a concert not to be missed! Tickets and more information are available here.