Monday, February 1, 2010

'Composer Regina Baiocchi and the Late Hale Smith' & 6th Annual Haiku Festival


[Regina Harris Baiocchi]

On Jan. 6, 2010 AfriClassical interviewed Regina Harris Baiocchi about two separate but closely related topics, her career as a composer and her friendship with the late Hale Smith (1925-2009). Hale Smith was also an African American composer, and he died November 24, 2009. "Composer Regina Baiocchi and the Late Hale Smith" was published in a series of five installments:
Part 1 Jan. 11, Part 2 Jan. 12, Part 3 Jan. 14, Part 4 Jan. 21, Part 5 Jan. 29.

Part 5 of the interview begins with this note:
Since the date of the interview, Raoul Abdul of The New York Amsterdam News has died, on Jan. 15, 2010. AfriClassical has published Regina Harris Baiocchi's tribute to him, "In Memoriam: Raoul Abdul (1929-2010)"
The final installment of the interview ends with:
Well I really appreciate your interest in Hale Smith and interest in myself and my music.
Certainly! Dominique-René de Lerma is the one who gave me an appreciation of both of you!
Oh, Dominique! He's a very good man! (End of Interview)

Regina Harris Baiocchi is also Founder of the Haiku Festival, which recently made this announcement about its 6th Annual Haiku Festival:

"Dear Poets, Parents & Teachers:
The 6th Annual Haiku Festival is underway and we would lovefor you to participate! Here are the particulars:
Who: Poets ages 8 to 14, or grade 3rd through 8th
What: Send ONE ORIGINAL, three-line, 5-7-5 poem
When: The deadline isSaturday, 13 March 2010
Where: online @www.HaikuFest.com or to
Haiku Festival, P.O. Box 450, Chicago, IL 60690
How: Write and submit a family-friendly, G-rated haiku

Judges will award prizes: Prizes include books signed by our special guest, poet Angela Jackson, and cash awards of $20.00 to $100.00. Teacher-of-the-Year and School-of-the-Year awards will be given to those who submit the most poems. See the attached press release and entry form.

NB: Click here to read the Converge Magazine article on Haiku Festival http://www.convergemag.com/artsandhumanities/Haiku-Festival-Inspires-Young-Writers.html

We look forward to hearing from you soon. Please call or write with your questions.
Sincerely,
Regina Harris Baiocchi
Founder, Haiku Festival"
http://www.HaikuFest.com

Comments
Regina Harris Baiocchi learned about African American Music, Poetry and Literature in elementary school. Inclusiveness became the norm for her and its value was made clear by the lack of inclusiveness during her freshman year of high school at a Catholic boarding school in Wisconsin. During her last three years of high school, Regina flourished in a supportive environment in which she had several exemplary Music teachers. She knew then that she could become a composer.

It is fascinating to see the role which the life of the mind played in her friendship with Hale Smith (1925-2009). They were composers of different generations, but they shared an unlimited creativity. Neither would be confined to traditional or contemporary styles of classical music, or even to the genre of classical music itself. They lived far apart but for years they managed to maintain a lively exchange of ideas via telephone. Regina continues to compose, but now the world also benefits from her efforts to encourage young children to write Haiku.

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