Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Dr. Henry Panion, III: Dreams of Hope to Broadcast on PBS Stations Across America in February 2020




Dr. Henry Panion, III writes:

DREAMS OF HOPE CONCERT DOCUMENTARY
CELEBRATES THE UNIFYING POWER OF MUSIC AND SPIRIT OF RESILIENCE
Inspiring program releases on public television in February 2020

(Boston, MA – December 31, 2019) The concert documentary Dreams of Hope tells the story of a historic performance at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, more than 50 years after a hate crime there killed four African American girls. An initiative called Violins of Hope contributed painstakingly restored musical instruments to the event, including violins recovered from Holocaust concentration camps, which serve as symbols of resilience in the face of hate, discrimination and racism.

Directed by David Macon and Dr. Henry Panion, III, and presented and distributed by American Public Television, Dreams of Hope will air on public television stations nationwide in February 2020 for Black History Month (check local listings for airdates).

With a captivating storyline written by filmmaker David L. Macon, Dreams of Hope blends concert performance footage with behind-the-scenes interviews chronicling the event's preparation and reflecting on its significance. The program includes reflections by Richard Arrington, Jr., the first African-American Mayor of Birmingham; Jeffrey and Gail Bayer, co-chairs of Violins of Hope Birmingham; Chris Hamlin, former Pastor of 16th Street Baptist; Amnon and Assi Weinstein, founders of Violins of Hope; Dr. Henry Panion, III; violinist Caitlin Edwards; and Sallie Downs, who spearheaded the initiative to bring Violins of Hope to Birmingham.

Concert footage features the premiere of "Dreams of Hope for Solo Violin & Orchestra" by acclaimed composer and conductor Henry Panion, III, commissioned especially for this concert. Alongside the Dreams of Hope Orchestra, the concert features vocalists Valerie Smith and Lenora Goodman-Panion, dancer Kelsey Ebersold, and the Miles College Choir. Violinist Caitlin Edwards returns to her hometown of Birmingham to play the Auschwitz Violin, originally built around 1850.

Dreams of Hope is a demonstration of what can happen when people of different backgrounds and cultures come together on common ground and communicate with a common voice, recognizing yet celebrating their differences.

"First there was John Williams’ Schindler's List and now there's Henry Panion's Dreams of Hope. It's a masterpiece that should be heard at Carnegie Hall and all over the world. There are just no words for the brilliant gifts of music which we received that evening."
—Amnon Weinstein

“The story of these violins and the Jewish people is of survival, hope, and triumph, one that so parallels the story of the 16th Street Baptist Church and its people. Having suffered the worst fate imaginable, the church and these violins have been beautifully restored and are now magnificent relics for all to behold. As a people of the human race, we continue to strive and hope for a better world through our struggles, our trials, our tribulations… and our triumphs.”
—Dr. Henry Panion, III

About American Public Television
American Public Television (APT) is the leading syndicator of high-quality, top-rated programming to the nation’s public television stations. Founded in 1961, APT distributes 250 new program titles per year and more than one-third of the top 100 highest-rated public television titles in the U.S. APT’s diverse catalog includes prominent documentaries, performance, news and current affairs programs, dramas, how-to programs, children’s series and classic movies. America’s Test Kitchen From Cook’s Illustrated, Cook’s Country, AfroPoP, Rick Steves’ Europe, Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Television, Front and Center, Doc Martin, Midsomer Murders, Lidia’s Kitchen, Kevin Belton’s New Orleans Kitchen, Simply Ming, The Best of the Joy of Painting with Bob Ross, and P. Allen Smith’s Garden Home are a sampling of APT’s programs, considered some of the most popular on public television. APT also licenses programs internationally through its APT Worldwide service and distributes Create®TV — featuring the best of public television's lifestyle programming — and WORLD™, public television’s premier news, science and documentary channel. To find out more about APT’s programs and services, visit APTonline.org.


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