Monday, July 29, 2019

A Classical Social Justice Concert? That's Right: 800 Years of Feminist History in 80 Minutes


Women Warriors: The Voices of Change World Premier  
Orchestra Moderne NYC Presents Groundbreaking Social Justice Performance with 17 World Premiers 

June 26, 2019, New York, NY - Well timed with the recent decline in women’s and minorities’ rights        nationwide, a new symphonic experience showcases an original documentary covering 800 years of          feminist history and the development of women's civil and human rights in 80 minutes. ​Orchestra        Moderne NYC presents ​Women Warriors: The Voices of Change, a dynamic, multimedia social justice        concert that premiers at​ Lincoln Center on Friday, September 20, 2019​. While concertgoers watch the    powerful footage, they will hear live music written by eight female Hollywood composers performed on        stage, inspiring hope and courage for women and young girls. On the heels of Orchestra Moderne’s        success with​ Journey to America: From Repression to Freedom, the game-changing ensemble is bringing    young people to concert halls through shows that connect audiences with relevant topics that impact    their daily lives. 
Groundbreaking ​Women Warriors: The Voices of Change is made possible by Orchestra Moderne’s        nonprofit, Music Resonates, Inc., which supports female composers, an underrepresented group in      media. ​Women Warriors honors the strength and heroism of Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, Nadia        Murad, Malala Yousafzai and many others who have risked their lives for the freedom of speech, social      justice, and equality. The documentary includes 12 chapters that feature activists tackling various issues,  such as civil rights, climate change, human trafficking, women’s rights in Iran, child marriage, the AIDS/HIV crisis and LGBTQ rights. Each chapter pairs with vibrant, symphonic music and special        performances, creating a riveting live-to-screen experience. 

Amy Andersson, Founder and Conductor, Orchestra Moderne NYC said, “Orchestra Moderne NYC was        founded to offer audiences of all ages symphonic concerts that are socially relevant and engaging.        Women Warriors: The Voices of Change features a record-setting number of female composers for a      single concert and 17 world premiering works. I hope this concert is a model of how symphony              orchestras can connect to their communities through musical and social advocacy. Creating programs        that motivate and inspire young people to reflect on the world around them is my dream.”

Highlights include: ● Masih Alinejad​, an Iranian-American journalist and author of ​The Wind in My Hair, My Fight for Freedom in Modern Iran, is the featured guest speaker. ● Sonita Alizadeh​, an Afghan rapper/songwriter and human rights activist, performs her famous song, ‘Daughters for Sale,’ which describes her own experience as a child bride for sale.  ● 15-year-old singer/songwriter, ​Isolde Fair​, known for her song ‘To All the Little Girls,’ inspired by Hillary Clinton’s famous concession speech, performs a solo in honor of three activists who survived the Parkland shooting. ● Nathalie Bonin​, award-winning composer, and violinist performs ​Penka Kouneva’s “Earth,” which honors Israeli and Palestinian women building peace.

Women Warriors: The Voices of Change will premier at ​8 pm on Friday, September 20, at Alice Tully          Hall, Lincoln Center​. ​Hollywood composers featured include ​Lolita Ritmanis​, ​Penka Kouneva​, ​Starr            Parodi​, ​Miriam Cutler​, ​Mandy Hoffman​, ​Anne-Kathrin Dern​,​ Nathalie Bonin​, and​ Sharon Farber​.​ Tickets        start at $40 and can be purchased ​here​:
http://lincolncenter.org/show/women-warriors-the-voices-of-change 

Watch the trailer ​here​:
https://vimeo.com/344391908/d80f1fff71

About Orchestra Moderne NYC 
The critically acclaimed Orchestra Moderne NYC is a dynamic ensemble, founded in early 2017 by            internationally known conductor Amy Andersson. Comprised of New York’s top musicians, this            game-changing orchestra creates musical experiences that celebrate humanity and connect to  important social issues. Lauded as a “first-rate classical ensemble” in New York City by ​ZEALnyc​, the  ensemble promotes inclusive opportunities for all composers and performers, including women and      minorities. Through premiering compositions in film, television, concert and video game genres,            Orchestra Moderne NYC resonates with young, diverse audiences and reconnects music lovers to the  thrill of hearing live orchestral music that is relevant and relatable. Learn more at              orchestramoderne-nyc.com​ and follow on ​Facebook​.

About Amy Andersson 
Amy Andersson is the founder and music director of Orchestra Moderne NYC. Ms. Andersson is on a          mission to bring young audiences into concert halls with culturally and socially relevant programs. She    has led more than 90 orchestras worldwide in more than 22 countries. She has appeared on the​Late        Show with Stephen Colbert, ​CBS Morning News, and​CBS Evening ​ News, has been ​ featured in the Wall    Street Journal ​ and covered in many more national and international media outlets​.  
Ms. Andersson is dedicated to working with young musicians and composers, has toured internationally  with youth orchestras, and has taught at universities in the U.S. and abroad. She has given masterclasses  for the Alliance for Women Film Composers and most recently, accepted the position of Adjunct              Lecturer at Brooklyn College/Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema, where she teaches conducting to    media scoring composers. Learn more at ​amyanderssonconductor.com and follow on ​Twitter and Instagram​. 

About Music Resonates, Inc. 
Music Resonates, Inc., a New York State registered 501(c)3 nonprofit, puts a spotlight on women and      minority composers by featuring them in socially relevant concerts performed by Orchestra Moderne    NYC. Its mission includes invigorating young audiences to bring them into the concert halls, developing programs with partners that educate and mentor youth around the country, and performing concerts with a social echo that resonates with all ages.   

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