Let's talk about programming with purpose.
On June 30th, Resonance Ensemble closes its books on our 13th season. We have spent time over the last few weeks reflecting on where we are and where we want to go next. We share with you some of the ways we have grown into the organization we are today through the lens of our deepest core values: tangible connection, programming with purpose, and exceptional artistry.
Let’s talk about programming with purpose.
When you act with purpose, that intention shapes everything you do. Resonance has always dedicated itself fully to creating exceptional programs that bridge art forms and foster deeper connections with our community. We have dedicated our programming in recent years to amplify voices that have long been silenced, and to create spaces where complex issues can be highlighted, considered, and explored. From our concert programming and community partnerships, to our organizational structures and educational programs -- everything we do is driven by this.
We develop each concert’s theme in partnership with artists and nonprofit partners whose experiences shape the music we program and the new music we commission. Our concerts present challenging and diverse music, and highlight the phenomenal musicians of Resonance as well as poets, visual artists, composers, and collaborators.
Over the last year, programming with purpose has meant:
presenting a concert of works beautifully curated by Dr. Alexander Lloyd Blake—the highly-regarded conductor of the Los Angeles vocal ensemble, Tonality—in our opening concert HOME. These works explored houselessness, refugee experiences, life as an immigrant, and–as Dr. Blake beautifully stated–how we “can be home for somebody.”
Included in the HOME concert, was this performance by Vin Shambry, sharing his experiences with houselessness in Portland. His recent work with Alberta House reflects programming with purpose and we are honored to continue collaborating with him and everyone at Alberta House.
commissioning new music by Chilean-born, Portland-based composer Freddy Vilches for our ABYA YALA concert. This program showcased the words, music, and visual art of indigenous artists from Portland and across the Pan-Americas. Vilches’ Abya Yala Choral Suite was performed both in Portland and at the Northwest American Choral Directors Association conference in Spokane, Washington.
sharing, at long last, the eagerly-anticipated world premiere of An African American Requiem by celebrated composer Damien Geter (Resonance’s Artistic Advisor), commissioned by Resonance Ensemble and performed jointly with the Oregon Symphony. In an effort to bring this work to as many listeners as possible, we were also proud to partner with All Classical Portland for the free syndication of this pivotal work.
traveling to the nation’s capital to present the East Coast premiere of An African American Requiem at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC–collaborating with the Choral Arts Society and the NEWorks Philharmonic Orchestra for both the performance and the premiere recording.
Programming with purpose happens because of the support of our donors. We take care to pay our extraordinary musicians and artistic collaborators competitively, and we prioritize commissioning timely new works from composers and poets. We live our mission: programming with purpose. As we get closer to June 30 - the end of our fiscal year - we hope you will consider a donation to Resonance Ensemble.