so I’d like to begin today speaking just a little bit about my project the
a little bit about my project the
a little bit about my project the forward music project this is a project
forward music project this is a project
forward music project this is a project that Commission’s new musical works that
that Commission’s new musical works that
that Commission’s new musical works that encourage social change and empowerment
encourage social change and empowerment
encourage social change and empowerment for women and girls and two years ago I
for women and girls and two years ago I
for women and girls and two years ago I had this itch in my stomach that I
had this itch in my stomach that I
had this itch in my stomach that I really couldn’t scratch
really couldn’t scratch
really couldn’t scratch I felt like my musical career was not
I felt like my musical career was not
I felt like my musical career was not really connecting to the community I
really connecting to the community I
really connecting to the community I lived in and was not responding to the
lived in and was not responding to the
lived in and was not responding to the current political climate and I kept
current political climate and I kept
current political climate and I kept thinking of an artist that I greatly
thinking of an artist that I greatly
thinking of an artist that I greatly admire Nina Simone who used her artistry
admire Nina Simone who used her artistry
admire Nina Simone who used her artistry to empower her community and create
to empower her community and create
to empower her community and create change and she did say it best that an
change and she did say it best that an
change and she did say it best that an artist’s duty is to reflect the times
artist’s duty is to reflect the times
artist’s duty is to reflect the times and so I thought why aren’t classical
and so I thought why aren’t classical
and so I thought why aren’t classical musicians more outwardly political is it
musicians more outwardly political is it
musicians more outwardly political is it because primarily we play music without
because primarily we play music without
because primarily we play music without words is it because we have audiences
words is it because we have audiences
words is it because we have audiences that range on the political spectrum are
that range on the political spectrum are
that range on the political spectrum are we afraid to offend and I wouldn’t be
we afraid to offend and I wouldn’t be
we afraid to offend and I wouldn’t be able to talk about social change in
able to talk about social change in
able to talk about social change in classical music if I didn’t approach the
classical music if I didn’t approach the
classical music if I didn’t approach the issue that classical music still has a
issue that classical music still has a
issue that classical music still has a great lack of diversity in the audience
great lack of diversity in the audience
great lack of diversity in the audience as well as onstage when you picture a
as well as onstage when you picture a
as well as onstage when you picture a classical music concert what do you see
classical music concert what do you see
classical music concert what do you see usually you see a grandiose halt
usually you see a grandiose halt
usually you see a grandiose halt expensive ticket prices and this
expensive ticket prices and this
expensive ticket prices and this conjurer is a feeling of elitism and
conjurer is a feeling of elitism and
conjurer is a feeling of elitism and exclusivity and not only is there lack
exclusivity and not only is there lack
exclusivity and not only is there lack of diversity on and off the stage it’s
of diversity on and off the stage it’s
of diversity on and off the stage it’s also in our history books when we learn
also in our history books when we learn
also in our history books when we learn about the history of classical music we
about the history of classical music we
about the history of classical music we read about Beethoven
read about Beethoven
read about Beethoven Sartre Hyden Brahms Debussy all white
Sartre Hyden Brahms Debussy all white
Sartre Hyden Brahms Debussy all white male composers if there’s ever any
male composers if there’s ever any
male composers if there’s ever any mention of women or people of color it’s
mention of women or people of color it’s
mention of women or people of color it’s a side note and you’re lucky if they
a side note and you’re lucky if they
a side note and you’re lucky if they mention even more than a mere few one of
mention even more than a mere few one of
mention even more than a mere few one of my favorite Twitter feeds is by Brian
my favorite Twitter feeds is by Brian
my favorite Twitter feeds is by Brian Lauritzen and he is an advocate of
Lauritzen and he is an advocate of
Lauritzen and he is an advocate of diversity in the arts as well as an
diversity in the arts as well as an
diversity in the arts as well as an advocate for women composers and every
advocate for women composers and every
advocate for women composers and every time a major Orchestra or opera company
time a major Orchestra or opera company
time a major Orchestra or opera company or chamber music series announces their
or chamber music series announces their
or chamber music series announces their next season’s program he creates these
next season’s program he creates these
next season’s program he creates these breakdowns these composer breakdowns so
breakdowns these composer breakdowns so
breakdowns these composer breakdowns so I’ve pulled a few from Twitter and let’s
I’ve pulled a few from Twitter and let’s
I’ve pulled a few from Twitter and let’s see what Brian has pulled together so we
see what Brian has pulled together so we
see what Brian has pulled together so we have the Philadelphia Orchestra 50
have the Philadelphia Orchestra 50
have the Philadelphia Orchestra 50 different composers men 49 women one
different composers men 49 women one
different composers men 49 women one dead 42
dead 42
dead 42 rest in peace alive eight the Dallas
rest in peace alive eight the Dallas
rest in peace alive eight the Dallas Symphony 30 different composers men 30
Symphony 30 different composers men 30
Symphony 30 different composers men 30 women 0 the Utah Symphony 28 different
women 0 the Utah Symphony 28 different
women 0 the Utah Symphony 28 different composers men 28 women 0 the Detroit
composers men 28 women 0 the Detroit
composers men 28 women 0 the Detroit Symphony Orchestra 46 different
Symphony Orchestra 46 different
Symphony Orchestra 46 different composers men 43 female 3 Metropolitan
composers men 43 female 3 Metropolitan
composers men 43 female 3 Metropolitan Opera men 16 women 0 and the Chamber
Opera men 16 women 0 and the Chamber
Opera men 16 women 0 and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center 65 male
Music Society of Lincoln Center 65 male
Music Society of Lincoln Center 65 male composers and six women so these
composers and six women so these
composers and six women so these institutions these great institutions
institutions these great institutions
institutions these great institutions have great cultural power and I again
have great cultural power and I again
have great cultural power and I again come back to the feeling of fear what
come back to the feeling of fear what
come back to the feeling of fear what are we afraid of in Y in 2017 have we
are we afraid of in Y in 2017 have we
are we afraid of in Y in 2017 have we still not created equality in our
still not created equality in our
still not created equality in our concert programming yo-yo ma says that
concert programming yo-yo ma says that
concert programming yo-yo ma says that everybody is afraid and when you connect
everybody is afraid and when you connect
everybody is afraid and when you connect with somebody through music you can turn
with somebody through music you can turn
with somebody through music you can turn fear into joy so I want to
fear into joy so I want to
fear into joy so I want to ask who is it that you are actually
ask who is it that you are actually
ask who is it that you are actually seeking to connect with and I’m not the
seeking to connect with and I’m not the
seeking to connect with and I’m not the only one that’s addressing the issues
only one that’s addressing the issues
only one that’s addressing the issues around the country of lack of diversity
around the country of lack of diversity
around the country of lack of diversity in classical music there are
in classical music there are
in classical music there are organizations that are doing really
organizations that are doing really
organizations that are doing really really wonderful work to create
really wonderful work to create
really wonderful work to create inclusivity among them are the Sphinx
inclusivity among them are the Sphinx
inclusivity among them are the Sphinx organization that supports the work of
organization that supports the work of
organization that supports the work of African American and Latino classical
African American and Latino classical
African American and Latino classical musicians and puts instruments and hands
musicians and puts instruments and hands
musicians and puts instruments and hands of students across the country who
of students across the country who
of students across the country who otherwise would not have access to music
otherwise would not have access to music
otherwise would not have access to music education and their catch phrase is
education and their catch phrase is
education and their catch phrase is transforming lives through the power of
transforming lives through the power of
transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts there is the dream
diversity in the arts there is the dream
diversity in the arts there is the dream unfinished which is an activist
unfinished which is an activist
unfinished which is an activist Orchestra that supports New York City
Orchestra that supports New York City
Orchestra that supports New York City based civil rights community
based civil rights community
based civil rights community organizations the first year they
organizations the first year they
organizations the first year they launched a concert by a very diverse
launched a concert by a very diverse
launched a concert by a very diverse orchestra in commemoration of the death
orchestra in commemoration of the death
orchestra in commemoration of the death of Eric garner the second year sing her
of Eric garner the second year sing her
of Eric garner the second year sing her name the one year commemoration of the
name the one year commemoration of the
name the one year commemoration of the death of Sandra bland this year they are
death of Sandra bland this year they are
death of Sandra bland this year they are focusing on the prison to pipeline
focusing on the prison to pipeline
focusing on the prison to pipeline education system also community music
education system also community music
education system also community music schools like community MusicWorks in
schools like community MusicWorks in
schools like community MusicWorks in Providence Rhode Island
Providence Rhode Island
Providence Rhode Island that creates a cohesive urban community
that creates a cohesive urban community
that creates a cohesive urban community through music education and performances
through music education and performances
through music education and performances so with my project the forward music
so with my project the forward music
so with my project the forward music project I wanted to use the cello as a
project I wanted to use the cello as a
project I wanted to use the cello as a platform to create social change and to
platform to create social change and to
platform to create social change and to raise awareness of women’s issues and in
raise awareness of women’s issues and in
raise awareness of women’s issues and in performance I am able to embody
performance I am able to embody
performance I am able to embody empathize and share stories in one of
empathize and share stories in one of
empathize and share stories in one of the most effective settings which is a
the most effective settings which is a
the most effective settings which is a concert and as a listener this
concert and as a listener this
concert and as a listener this experience for you is visceral you you
experience for you is visceral you you
experience for you is visceral you you see you hear you feel music is healing
see you hear you feel music is healing
see you hear you feel music is healing music is empowering
music is empowering
music is empowering so I commissioned seven composers to
so I commissioned seven composers to
so I commissioned seven composers to write pieces for me based on their
write pieces for me based on their
write pieces for me based on their personal story or an issue that affects
personal story or an issue that affects
personal story or an issue that affects women and girls and the pieces that came
women and girls and the pieces that came
women and girls and the pieces that came back to me ranged
back to me ranged
back to me ranged issues of sexual violence and child
issues of sexual violence and child
issues of sexual violence and child marriage to reproductive rights and
marriage to reproductive rights and
marriage to reproductive rights and female empowerment these composers are
female empowerment these composers are
female empowerment these composers are Natalie Hashem Alison Loggins hull and
Natalie Hashem Alison Loggins hull and
Natalie Hashem Alison Loggins hull and helican a grown Leila I do
helican a grown Leila I do
helican a grown Leila I do Amanda theory and Morgan Krauss and
Amanda theory and Morgan Krauss and
Amanda theory and Morgan Krauss and Jessica Meier and these women are the
Jessica Meier and these women are the
Jessica Meier and these women are the face of classical music today these
face of classical music today these
face of classical music today these women are the future of music and along
women are the future of music and along
women are the future of music and along with this project instead of having the
with this project instead of having the
with this project instead of having the regular headshot cellist and cello
regular headshot cellist and cello
regular headshot cellist and cello I wanted to create images that conjured
I wanted to create images that conjured
I wanted to create images that conjured how I felt about women’s issues that
how I felt about women’s issues that
how I felt about women’s issues that were authentic to the projects I created
were authentic to the projects I created
were authentic to the projects I created so along with photographer Ryan sharp we
so along with photographer Ryan sharp we
so along with photographer Ryan sharp we created images that evoke the feeling of
created images that evoke the feeling of
created images that evoke the feeling of oppression suffocation abuse
vulnerability and body image so I want
vulnerability and body image so I want all of us and classical musicians
all of us and classical musicians
all of us and classical musicians especially to see now it wouldn’t be a
especially to see now it wouldn’t be a
especially to see now it wouldn’t be a TED talk if I didn’t have fancy letters
TED talk if I didn’t have fancy letters
TED talk if I didn’t have fancy letters with words that came after them so seek
with words that came after them so seek
with words that came after them so seek encourage empower let’s ask ourselves
encourage empower let’s ask ourselves
encourage empower let’s ask ourselves these questions every time we program a
these questions every time we program a
these questions every time we program a concert every time we create a new
concert every time we create a new
concert every time we create a new project which community are we seeking
project which community are we seeking
project which community are we seeking to connect with what message are we
to connect with what message are we
to connect with what message are we encouraging people to hear and who are
encouraging people to hear and who are
encouraging people to hear and who are we empowering so I’d like to conclude
we empowering so I’d like to conclude
we empowering so I’d like to conclude today with a performance of two pieces
today with a performance of two pieces
today with a performance of two pieces from this project one is a work by
from this project one is a work by
from this project one is a work by Morgan Krauss and she wrote a piece
Morgan Krauss and she wrote a piece
Morgan Krauss and she wrote a piece based on an experience of sexual assault
thank you these women can better explain
thank you these women can better explain their pieces than I so again we will
their pieces than I so again we will
their pieces than I so again we will listen to a recording of Morgan talking
listen to a recording of Morgan talking
listen to a recording of Morgan talking about her piece which is titled memories
about her piece which is titled memories
about her piece which is titled memories lie dormant they are reviled before they
lie dormant they are reviled before they
lie dormant they are reviled before they are revealed imagine what it is to come
are revealed imagine what it is to come
are revealed imagine what it is to come upon or be subjected to trauma emotional
upon or be subjected to trauma emotional
upon or be subjected to trauma emotional physical or the like at first your mind
physical or the like at first your mind
physical or the like at first your mind races you are inept every thought and
races you are inept every thought and
races you are inept every thought and bodily awareness becomes an untidy
bodily awareness becomes an untidy
bodily awareness becomes an untidy collection or pile of things spilling
collection or pile of things spilling
collection or pile of things spilling from within your being simultaneously
the next piece is mm by jessica.meyer I
the next piece is mm by jessica.meyer I wanted to write a piece for Amanda where
wanted to write a piece for Amanda where
wanted to write a piece for Amanda where she gets to do all the things she loves
she gets to do all the things she loves
she gets to do all the things she loves she glows from the stage when she was
she glows from the stage when she was
she glows from the stage when she was grooving on her cello and I wanted to
grooving on her cello and I wanted to
grooving on her cello and I wanted to capture that swerve is about women
capture that swerve is about women
capture that swerve is about women making a conscious effort to get
making a conscious effort to get
making a conscious effort to get everything grooving the way it should
everything grooving the way it should
everything grooving the way it should and balance with all of the feelings
and balance with all of the feelings
and balance with all of the feelings responsibilities and challenges that are
responsibilities and challenges that are
responsibilities and challenges that are unique to us it is about the time we
unique to us it is about the time we
unique to us it is about the time we need to take to make sure we both take
need to take to make sure we both take
need to take to make sure we both take care of ourselves and find our true
care of ourselves and find our true
care of ourselves and find our true selves so we are the most resilient
selves so we are the most resilient
selves so we are the most resilient persistent empowered versions of
persistent empowered versions of
persistent empowered versions of ourselves in essence that moment when
ourselves in essence that moment when
ourselves in essence that moment when you get your swerve on
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