A music symposium with a focus on African American and female composers was shown to students and the public alike on Friday, March 8.
The event was organized by Dr. Christina Wright-Ivanova, the organizer of keyboard studies and associate professor at Keene State.
Joining Wright-Ivanova in the Symposium were Amadi Azikiwe, Apple Hill String Quartet, Dr. Andrea Moore, Dr. Artina McCain and Dr. Cailin Marcel Manson, along with Keene State music faculty Dr. Heather Gilligan, and Seelan Manickam.
Wright-Ivanova said her reasoning for organizing the symposium is because the event had a lot to offer.
“It’s been a very exciting and long journey to get here,” Wright-Ivanova said. “We have several guest artists coming from many different schools, across the country. Professors and also esteemed professional performers and musicologists … lots of different areas [are] being represented.”
To bridge the gap between education and performance, Wright-Ivanova explained, “I decided to call it a symposium because I wanted to have the academic component as well as the performance. So we have musicologists coming to talk about both areas of focus … the two areas being African American composers and female composers … we have several different guests coming to talk and play.”
One of the speakers at the symposium, Azikiwe, who performed later in the event, said his goal was to, “Fill the community with chamber music and bring as many people as possible into the concert hall … I think each of our biggest hopes [is]… for people to find out more about the composers.”
Azikiwe described the significance of the symposium.
“I’m so glad for this symposium and for every opportunity that there is to share thoughts and experiences, which is … the most important, if we’re talking about complete inclusivity and equity and diversity,” Azikiwe said. “Each of us here today are part of someone’s story of diversity.”
Elise Kuder, a violinist and co-artistic director at Apple Hill, said the reason for her involvement in the symposium, reflected upon Apple Hill’s values.
“Our mission is to cultivate connection and understanding among people of diverse backgrounds, cultures, ages, and playing levels,” Kuder said. “We do that through musical performance and education centered around acceptance, inclusivity, creative expression and encouragement.”
Apple Hill String Quartet gave an instrumental masterclass for students in the afternoon.
Additionally, they played two movements of a string quartet by William Grant Still during the evening concert and collaborated with Wright-Ivanova to perform Florence Price’s second piano quartet.
According to Kuder, the pieces chosen, “The Sentimental One“ and “The Jovial One,” were written by Still. She described the selections as “beautiful music inspired by some of [Still’s] friends.”
Grant was the first American composer to have an opera produced by the New York City Opera, Kuder added.
“His music is gorgeous,” Kuder said. “This piece was written in 1960. It really takes the listener on this really wonderful, beautiful journey.”
Benjamin Martins can be contacted at
bmartins@kscequinox.com
