Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Teachers College, Columbia University: Parallels of the Past, Music of Black and Jewish Composers and Beyond, Wed. March 22, 2017, 7 PM, Ensemble Du Monde


Miller Theatre Columbia University 
2960 Broadway (@116th), New York, NY 10027

Wednesday, March 22, 2017, 7:00 PM

As part of Teachers College Columbia University Diversity in Classical Music Project, ENSEMBLE DU MONDE explore the rich history of classical music in a program that features composers from myriad backgrounds including African American and Jewish descent, and is highlighted by works of Pulitzer Prize wining composer George Walker and Béla Bartók, a genius who during World War II escaped his native homeland of Hungary to immigrate to New York City to start a new life.



These composers and their heroic stories of struggle, in their own way, changed fabric of music, as we know it in America and throughout the world. 



Special guest include features American icons Carol Jenkins, and Reginald Van Lee who will narrate inspirational poems of Langston Hughes and Tamam Tracy Moncur.


PROGRAM


William Grant STILL (1895 – 1978)     
Mother and Child

Langston HUGHES (1902 – 1967)
Let America Be America Again

Samuel BARBER (1910 – 1981)
Adagio

Ivan FISCHER (b. 1951)
Eine Deutsch-Jiddische Kantate
I. Zweistimmige Ouverture
II. Wiegenlied
III. Deutsche Arie
IV. Jiddische Arie
V. Grabschrift

INTERMISSION

Tamam Tracy MONCUR (b. 1945)
Will the Real America Please Stand!

George WALKER (b. 1922)
Lyric

Béla BARTÓK (1881 – 1945)
Divertimento
I. Allegro non troppo 
II. Molto Adagio
III. Allegro assai

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FEATURED ARTISTS BIOS

LORRAINE CURRELLEY, HOST.

Poet, writer, and multi-interdisciplinary artist, Lorraine Currelley is a Pearls of Wisdom storyteller and Founder and Executive director for Poets Network & Exchange, Inc. She is anthologized widely, publications include but are not limited to the Mom Egg Review, DoveTales, An International Journal, Belladonna, Blind Beggar Press, and Poets/Artists Magazine.

She has performed her original works at Alice Tully Hall, The Museum of Natural History with Gaptooth Girlfriends: The Third Act, Poets House, Mi Gente Latinx Music Festival, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Countee Cullen NYPL, Saint Phillips Performing and Fine Arts Center, Growing Theatre, Bronx Library Center, Smack Mellon Gallery, Herbert H. Lehman College, College of New Rochelle, Blind Beggar Press, Harlem State Office Building, Brooklyn Poets, BxArts Factory, The Point CDC, and Hostos Community College, to name a few.

She is the recipient of The 2015 Arts for A Lifetime Grant by the New York Public Library, a Bronx Council for the Arts 2014 Seniors Partnering with the Arts Citywide Residency, Out of the Binders Scholarships and and Watering Hole Residencies.

Ms. Currelley is the former president of the Harlem Arts Fund and currently is a board member at Pen To Mind Books & Child Development Concepts, Inc., and Blind Beggar Press, Inc., a Bronx Book Fair Organizer and a Writing for Peace, Inc. adviser. 

Upcoming events include Bronx Book Fair and numerous spoken word performances, workshops, and panel discussions, throughout the New York area and abroad.
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MARLON DANIEL, MUSIC DIRECTOR & CONDUCTOR

One of the most dynamic conductors of his generation, Marlon DANIEL has been described as "a natural and enormous talent"  (Chicago Sun-Times) and his artistry has been hailed as “fabulous and exceptional” (Pravda – Moscow).  Winner of the 2014 John and Mary Virginia Foncannon Conducting Award, he has performed in some of the most prestigious venues in Europe and the United States that range from Carnegie Hall to the Rudolfinum in Prague and several international music festivals. He has also worked with international artists that have included Koh Gabriel Kameda, Julian Milkis, Magali Léger, Kristin Lewis, Rachel Barton-Pine, Eric Silberger, Russell Thomas and Deborah Voigt, to name a few.

He has received numerous prizes and awards including the Mabel Henderson Memorial Grant for Foreign Experience, a Rose Hanus Fellowship, and an Honorary Key to the City of Chicago for Outstanding Musical Achievement and the ‘Voice of the Artist’ Award from the United Nations in recognition of his charitable work of bringing awareness to the crisis in Darfur.

He was educated at Manhattan School of Music, Le Conservatoire Américain - Fontainebleau (France), Centro de Estudios Musicales Isaac Albéniz (Spain) and the Prague Academy, where he received his training in conducting whilst serving as Associate Conductor of the Praga Sinfonietta. He has also profited from the advice of Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic as a James and Lola Faust Fellow, and Jorma Panula at the Panula Academy in Finland.

Currently he is Artistic Director of the Festival International de Musique Saint-Georges, the Bahamas National Orchestra Workshops, Music Director of the Colour of Music Festival, Music Director of Ensemble du Monde, Guest Conductor of the Pazardzhik State Symphony Orchestra, Assistant Conductor of the Sofia Opera and Ballet in Bulgaria and a Guest Lecturer at Yale University.
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RICHARD FIELDS, TRUMPET

Richard Fields made his solo debut at age sixteen with the New World School of the Arts high school in Miami. He went on to win awards in the Jazz at Lincoln Center Competition hosted by Wynton Marsalis. Based based in New York City. He performs regularly with ensembles such as the New World Symphony, Miami Symphony, Broward Symphony, Ensemble du Monde, Bravo Vail Valley Festival Brass Quintet, and the National Symphony Orchestra of Merida Mexico.

He received his B.M and M.M from Suny Purchase State University of New York where his principal teachers were Graham Ashton, Rich Klemer and Lee Soper. He has also participated in the Luzerne Music Center and the Las Vegas Music Festival.

As a smooth jazz artist Mr. Fields is in high demand and currently featured as a performer and composer on the new CD Walk Away alongside Mike Marrocco.
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CAROL JENKINS, NARRATOR

Carol Jenkins is an Emmy-award winning journalist, commentator, documentarian, media analyst, producer and writer. She has enjoyed a 30-year, award-winning tenure with several New York City news departments, including 23 years at WNBC-TV and hosted Carol Jenkins Live, on WNYW-TV. She was most identified with her reporting of national political stories, including a poignant reportage on Apartheid and Nelson Mandela after 27 years in prison.

During her tenure as founding president of the WMC she was  awarded The North Star News Prize, The Women’s Equality Award from The National Council of Women’s Organizations, and the Lucretia Mott Award from Women’s Way of Philadelphia. She has also served on the board of The African Medical Research Foundation (AMREF) and President of the Women’s Media Center

Ms. Jenkins holds honorary doctorates from The College of New Rochelle and Marymount Manhattan College and has been honored by the Association of Black Journalists/New York Chapter with Lifetime Achievement and International Reporting Awards, UPI, The Feminist Press, The Daily News’ Front Page Award, YWCA, Girl Scouts of America, Save the Children, Single Parents' Association, United Negro College Fund, Hale House, National Mothers Day Committee as Mother of the Year, the Police Athletic League as Woman of the Year, Abbot House as Humanitarian of the Year, and as Distinguished Alumna of New York University, among many others.
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LARA NIE, SOPRANO

Recognized for her passionate interpretation and sophisticated musicality, soprano Lara Nie is one of the most versatile and accomplished singers performing today. She has been hailed as one of New York’s most “prominent German lied specialists” by New York Magazine and as “an intensely expressive artist” by the Cleveland Plain Dealer. She has performed at Altenburger Musik Festival, Carnegie Hall Weill Recital Hall, Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival, Cleveland Severance Hall, the Dame Myra Hess Concert Series, the Edgar M. Bronfman Chamber Music Series, Israel Vocal Arts, the Ravinia Festival, Chicago Orchestra Hall, Munich Gasteig, Kentro Musikis, The Kitchen, Merkin Concert Hall, Windermere Music Festival, the Society for Ethical Culture and the Washington Holocaust Museum Chamber Series.

She has collaborated with Bronfman Quartet, the Chicago Civic Orchestra, Lara Downes, the Escher Quartet, Brandt Fredriksen, Dame Emma Kirkby, Miami String Quartet, Jon Nakamatsu, Amit Paled, the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, the Sun Valley Summer Symphony, Shai Wosner and with members of Cleveland Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the St. Louis Symphony and Washington National Orchestra. She has also performed with with conductors that include Christopher Eschenbach, David Gilbert, Michael Morgan, Alasdair Neale, and Benjamin Simon.

Ms. Nie has recorded Mozart and Schubert lieder on the Silver Bay Label and performed on Chicago’s WFMT, Florida Public Radio, Radio Free Europe, New York’s WQXR Artist Showcase with Robert Sherman, and at Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival, the Chagrin Valley Chamber Music Concert Series and the Kosciuszko Foundation’s Chamber Music Series.

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REGINALD VAN LEE, NARRATOR

Reginald Van Lee is a retired Executive Vice President of Booz Allen Hamilton, where he recently led the U.S. Commercial business.  In his 32 years with the firm, he oversaw hundreds of engagements for corporate, government and Not-for-Profit clients across the globe and was a trusted advisor to C-suite executives and boards of directors.  He is the co-author of the book, “Megacommunities - How Leaders of Government, Business and Non-Profits Can Tackle Today’s Global Challenges Together.”  

Born in Houston, Texas, Mr. Van Lee attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he received his Bachelors and Masters of Science degrees. After a brief stint working for Exxon, Reggie went back to school to complete his MBA from the Harvard Business School and joined Booz Allen Hamilton directly after HBS.  

In 2008, Mr. Van Lee received the Black Engineer of the Year Award, and Consulting magazine named him as one of the top 25 consultants in the world; he was recognized as one of the 2009 Washington Minority Business Leaders by the Washington Business Journal.  Mr. Van Lee serves as Chairman of the board of the Washington Performing Arts and of the National CARES Mentoring Movement.  He is a Trustee of the Studio Museum in Harlem and is a member of the Executive Leadership Council. He is Vice Chair of the board of The Washington Ballet and Chairman Emeritus of the Evidence Dance Company. He was appointed by President Obama to the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Former board roles include Chair of the Board of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, Treasurer of the MAC AIDS Fund board, Trustee of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Chair of the Advisory Board of the USC School of Business, Chair of the Corporate Advisory Board of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund, and Chair of the board of the NY International Ballet Competition. He was formerly appointed by President Obama to the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.
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ENSEMBLE DU MONDE

Hailed as  “… the future of classical music on stage” by Time Out, Ensemble du Monde is one of the most dynamic and innovative chamber orchestras on the classical music scene today. Founded in New York City in 2000, it was named to reflect the diversity of its members who hail from over fifteen countries, cultures and backgrounds.

In 2000 the ensemble was selected by Daimler Chrysler and Mercedes Benz to perform at the world première inauguration of their new MAYBACH Car, an event that received worldwide multimedia press coverage. A Lincoln Center début followed in 2002, and in 2004 the ensemble made its Carnegie Hall début, which included renowned soprano, Deborah Voigt.

The members of Ensemble du Monde are graduates of some of the most prestigious institutions in the world, including the Beijing Conservatory, Cleveland Institute of Music, Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, Curtis Institute of Music, Eastman School of Music Indiana University, Mannes College of Music, Manhattan School of Music, Moscow Conservatory, The Julliard School, Prague Academy of Music (HAMU) and Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien to name a few. In addition to performing with Ensemble du Monde, members have independent careers as solo artists and work with other prestigious international groups.

The orchestra performs concerts throughout New York in venues including Carnegie Hall, The DiMenna Center for Classical Music, New York Society for Ethical Culture, Tenri Cultural Institute and Merkin Concert Hall, Kaufman Center in New York, where it performs innovative concerts throughout the year. In 2011 the Ensemble served as Ensemble-in-Residence for the International Festival Saint-Georges in Guadeloupe and in 2012 for the Nassau Music Society’s Festival of Afro-Caribbean Composers in the Bahamas, sponsored by Atlantis Resort, Alliance Française, Société Générale and the United States Embassy.

Led by its Music Director and Conductor, Marlon DANIEL, the ensemble’s Mission is to reinvigorate classical music through interactive and high-level performances that are accessible to all by combining world-class artistry and diversity with innovative and accessible programming.


Comment by email:
Thanks, Bill--so glad to have this. [Judith Anne Still]

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