This is a Groupmuse Massivemuse
Epic performances in unexpected spaces.
Courtney Bryan's "Yet Unheard": A Sound Off x PMM x PROTESTRA x VOCAL-NY Massivemuse
NoHo
Sun, February 12, 2023 7:00 PM, EST
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Capacity
- 5 of 50 tickets still available
- EITHER vaccination OR negative COVID test required
- Bring proof of COVID vaccination with booster
- Bring proof of negative COVID test (48 hours)
- This is an indoor event
- Masks are required for the entire groupmuse
- Greeter will confirm safety precautions
- If you feel sick, stay home
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- Don't bring your own drinks
- Bathroom available (mask required)
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ADA access
- Accessible
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- Kid-friendly event
Host
Join Sound Off: Music for Bail to ring in the new year with our first Massivemuse of 2023 in partnership with some new and old friends at Playwrights Horizons Downtown's Moss Theater.
As many Groupmusers may already know, the Groupmuse Foundation's Planetary Music Movement (PMM) is "on a mission to transform music's culture by celebrating and showcasing the artistry of Black musicians and composers" and we've worked together in the past to present string quartets written and performed by incredible Black artists. This time, Sound Off: Music for Bail is collaborating with Planetary Music Movement and renowned activist orchestra PROTESTRA for their largest show yet.
New Orleans native and Rome Prize-winning composer Dr. Courtney Bryan wrote her deeply affecting cantata, Yet Unheard for solo voice, chorus, and orchestra in collaboration with poet Sharan Strange in 2016, after the death of Sandra Bland in pre-trial incarceration. Bryan's response to this death, caused by misogynoir, police violence, and incorporation of money in the US criminal justice system serves as a lodestone to our musical programming. Our vocal soloist in Yet Unheard, the multi-talented soprano/composer/improviser Jasmine Wilson, will present some of her own music following.
Before the cantata, Voices of Community Leaders and Activists NY (VOCAL-NY) Director of Organizing, Jawanza James Williams, will present testimony on VOCAL-NY's work, the progress of justice work, and its future. And the show will open with strings, en masse: first, movements from Frederick Tillis' Spiritual Fantasy No. 12 for string quartet, then Akua Dixon's Efua arranged for string ensemble.
*Please note that doors will open at 7:00pm and the show will start at the downbeat of 7:30pm!
Sound Off: Music for Bail is grateful for foundational support for this programming courtesy of the YoungArts Foundation and the Abolitionist Teaching Network.
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
What's the music?
Frederick Tillis - Spiritual Fantasy No. 12 for String Quartet (movements 1, 3, and 2)
performed by Sunjay Jayaram, Jay Julio, Kayla Williams, and Malachi Brown
Akua Dixon - EFUA
performed by the strings of Sound Off
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Courtney Bryan - Yet Unheard for solo voice, vocal quartet, and chamber orchestra
featuring Jasmine Wilson, soprano & conducted by Christina Morris
Jasmine Wilson - Ruminations & Greener
conducted by Christina Morris
Interested in hearing about more events like this? You may want to subscribe to our Planetary Music mailing list:
Location
Host
Attendees
I'm almost without words to describe how grateful I am for last night. On behalf of Sound Off, we're thankful for this community and all the communities that came together to make this impactful show happen. Thank you especially to our Groupmuse reps that came out last night and organized virtually for this from afar!
Learn more about VOCAL-NY here: https://www.vocal-ny.org/
Learn more about Jawanza James Williams: https://jawanzajameswilliams.com/
Learn more about Jonathan Lykes: https://roddenberryfoundation.org/blog/fellow/jonathan-lykes/
And of course, find Sound Off on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. We'd especially love to repost any video or pictures you took -- please send it over FB, IG, or send me a message here on Groupmuse if the file is too large.
Here's the link to last night's show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo0nczBVVbs
Please share it widely!
Stay tuned for more programming to come in April (Upper East Side), May (location TBA), and July (online)!