Resonance Ensemble Teams with PRIDE Northwest to Celebrate and Support the LGBTQIA Community.
Shown here: Executive Directors, Debra Porta (Pride Northwest) and Kathy FitzGibbon (Resonance Ensemble)
“I heard about the equity and inclusion work that Resonance was doing and my ears perked. When Kathy approached me with ideas on a concert that celebrated the artistic works of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans communities, it was easy to see the value in partnering with Resonance. Our missions beautifully interweave, and I look forward to where we grow from here. ”
Resonance Ensemble and Pride Northwest are excited to announce their partnership, with the Resonance concert BODIES on Sunday, June 24, 2018 serving as an official event of Pride Northwest.
Resonance Ensemble’s current season is inspired by the events of this time of intense political and social upheaval, and aims to reflect the world we want to see: people coming together to gain new perspectives, and to be moved by our shared humanity. This inspiration merges with the mission of Pride Northwest - an organization dedicated to encouraging and supporting positive diversity, and educating all people by developing activities that showcase the history, accomplishments and talents of the LGBTQIA community. The result of this partnership is the upcoming performance of BODIES - an Official Pride Northwest event dedicated to celebrating gender identities, sexualities, and the LGBTQIA community’s work toward civil rights and understanding.
Artistic Director Katherine FitzGibbon says, “I had been envisioning a concert celebrating the artistic and civil rights work of the LGBTQIA community. What if Portland artists and supporters of this community shared an afternoon that showcased work of, for and about the cause? The power of community shines brightly when focused in the right direction. I knew immediately we had to connect with Pride Northwest.”
“I heard about the equity and inclusion work that Resonance was doing and my ears perked,” says Debra Porta, Executive Director of Pride Northwest. “When Kathy approached me with ideas on a concert that celebrated the artistic works of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans communities, it was easy to see the value in partnering with Resonance. Our missions beautifully interweave, and I look forward to where we grow from here.”
BODIES features compositions and performances by LGBTQIA artists, including a selection from Craig Hella Johnson’s Considering Matthew Shepard; Dominick DiOrio’s The Visible World, a work about marriage equality; and a selection from composer Laura Kaminsky’s work As One, written for mezzo-soprano (Beth Madsen Bradford) and baritone (Damien Geter) that depicts the experiences of its sole transgender protagonist, Hannah, as she endeavors to resolve the discord between herself and the outside world. Other special guests include:
- Stephen Marc Beaudoin singing a short trio of songs on the theme of PRETTY by gay composers which directly and or indirectly address gay living and lives.
- An original work performed by one of Portland’s most loved writers and Resonance Poet in Residence, S. Renee Mitchell
Pride Northwest and Resonance Ensemble look forward to this collaboration, which we hope to be the first of many.