Peabody students form Be Orchestra to "be involved"; will perform in a jail
A new ensemble called the Be Orchestra -- as in "be involved" and "be a part," artistic director Osvaldo Mendoza says -- has been formed by Peabody students and will debut Dec. 12 inside the Baltimore City Correctional Center.
Performing for "people who do not normally go to a concert hall" (or, in this case, can't) is part of the mission for this orchestra of 30-40 players, all of them volunteering their time and talent. Mendoza, a grad student in composition at Peabody, says the orchestra is focused "on the future, on hope."
Plans call for monthly concerts during the spring semester. June Choi, a grad student in flute, is the organization's executive director.
Although the inaugural concert will be heard only by those behind bars, the public is invited to a repeat at noon Dec. 13 at St. Ignatius Church; admission is free.
The new orchestra's music director, Simeone Tartaglione, a recent recipient of a Peabody Graduate Performance Diploma in conducting, will share the podium with grad student Gemma New. The program includes Beethoven's "Egmont" Overture and Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto (with Peter Kwan, a Peabody undergrad, as soloist).
Comments
This is just WONDERFUL! God bless them for doing this. Music has the power to change brain chemistry. It can change hearts and behavior. It can save souls. This is a very special, dear thing.
Posted by: Jenny | December 6, 2009 2:15 PM