As
we are all practicing vigilant social distancing, I want to let you
know that Music Kitchen is continuing to serve those experiencing
homelessness during this time of crisis. Determined to honor our
originally scheduled March 30th performance, Monday afternoon
we initiated the first “Music Kitchen Bridging the Distance” ZoomCast.
Together with a video editor, we crafted a new welcome intro video that
features several Forgotten Voices artists taking lines in the
following message: “During these very difficult times, even though we
can’t be together in person, we want you to know that we’re thinking of
you. We’re with you and we will get through this together. So we hope
you enjoy these performances, brought to you by Music Kitchen- Food for
the Soul.” We then included a performance of Brahms A minor Quartet
from November 25, with its poignant and spirited audience reception,
followed by two Forgotten Voices songs. The weeping solemnity of
Angelica Negron’s “These Strings” really speaks to this moment of crisis
and we ended with “From My Heart” which swells with gratitude. I am
thrilled that through our partnership with the New York City Department
of Homeless Services and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority,
were able to offer this webcast to venues we have reached over the years
and beyond, from coast to coast, and even with LA Mayor Eric Garcetti’s
Office! Of course, I played these original performances and have also
watched the videos several times during the curation process, but
sitting there as host and spectator in this virtual audience took on a
new sense of peace, focus and yes, healing. The door to this new
ZoomCast venture is now open and we look forward to making the lemonade
of reaching even more people in need simultaneously around the country.
Our agency partners are very excited about Music Kitchen "Bridging the
Distance," and are working with us to reach more venues.
As
you might imagine with the anticipated apex of the Coronavirus Covid-19
pandemic still approaching in the coming 2-4 weeks, Carnegie Hall has
announced that the hall will remain closed through July. For those who
had already bought tickets for the May 21st event, your tickets will be automatically refunded after April 15th.
However,
I am thrilled and very proud of our partnership with Carnegie Hall and
that Carnegie leadership deeply values the caliber and impact of the
work that we are doing. I am happy to announce that our Forgotten Voices
World Premiere at Carnegie Hall is rescheduled for this fall 2020; We
are working very hard on all of this - please stay tuned for the exact
date. Many thanks to our amazing artists and composers who have
flawlessly created magic over these last 15 months, to the donors who
make it all possible and to our PR team and Carnegie Hall Host Committee
who are out in the world spreading the word about Music Kitchen and
Forgotten Voices!
I am also happy to share that in March, Music Kitchen was awarded a grant towards our upcoming Forgotten Voices Recording from the (NYC) Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment. Please see below for a link to the article on Variety.com.
During this unprecedented time, we champion with even more certitude that music holds a therapeutic and uplifting power for all
of us. So we would like to offer a ZoomCast of our first “Bridging the
Distance” program for you our Music Kitchen support community. Please
tune in this Friday at 3pm to Zoom ID 543-929-565 including a follow up
Chat and Q&A. If you’ve never used Zoom before, you can join us in
3 easy steps:
- 1.Download the FREE Zoom App (or visit www.Zoom.us)
- 2. Click Join a Meeting
- 3. Enter Zoom ID# 543-929-565
We
will emerge from this stronger, with greater passion and clarity of
purpose, and elevating the Forgotten Voices among us will be more
important than ever before.
With all best wishes for health and safety,
Kelly
Music Kitchen New York City - Photo by June Etta Photography
No comments:
Post a Comment