2022-23 Bridges PRogram Partners  The Chorale's Bridges series, begun in 1994 to build musical and social bridges to diverse populations, has been acclaimed as a national model for community engagement programs. Bridges is a series of musical initiatives that harness the richness and diversity of the global choral repertoire to engage cultural communities and raise awareness of pressing social needs.
Each year, the Chorale identifies key program collaborators, whether a community, an organization, an artist, or some combination of these. It then identifies appropriate occasions and venues, locates or commissions suitable repertoire, and tailors a range of outreach, education, and performance activities to accomplish the goals of the program. The cumulative results of two decades of Bridges programs include a widening of the audience for choral music in the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota, and a web of organizational and individual connections centered on music but reaching far beyond it. Interested in reading more about choral singing and community engagement? Click here to download Shekela Wanyama's thoughtful and provocative paper on the subject. |
Our season opens October 1st with the third of a series of concerts designed to reimagine the canon of choral music: guest conductors of color will lead singers from the Minnesota Chorale and Border CrosSing in works by composers whose music has historically been underrepresented on the concert stage.
The third concert in the series will be led by acclaimed conductor, composer and singer, Dr. Alexander Lloyd Blake. Dr. Blake works as an award-winning conductor, composer/arranger, vocal contractor, singer, and music activist. Named Musical America’s 30 Professionals of the Year in 2019 and the Louis Botto Award for Innovative actions and Entrepreneurial Zeal from Chorus America, Blake was recently featured in both the NY Times and LA Times for work in diversity and anti-racism within classical music. Blake is the Founding Artistic Director of Tonality, an award-winning choral ensemble focused on spreading a message of unity, peace, and social justice through a culturally diverse choral setting. He also serves as the Choir Director at Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA). He also serves in Los Angeles and New York City as a Principal Associate Conductor of the National Children’s Chorus. Previous Bridges Programs:
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MINNESOTA CHORALE
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