A Closer Look At Swell

Celebrate Immigrant Heritage Month and join the Asian American Arts Alliance (A4) on the evenings of June 22 and 29, 2021 as we present a two-part series, A Closer Look at Swell: Intimate Conversations with Asian Immigrants and Children of Asian Immigrants Who Turned Their Stories Into Song.

Details

Asian American Arts Alliance

The Asian American Arts Alliance is dedicated to strengthening Asian American artists and cultural groups through resource sharing, promotion, and community building.

  • Online
  • June 22, 2021
    6:00 pm

Swell is a new music song cycle written by ten composers who are immigrants and children of immigrants, with each song describing some aspect of the composers’ immigrant experience. In partnership with HERE, Swell had a premiere of a live, online run in 2021. Half the songs were written by Asian American composers with Filipino, Indian, Japanese, and Taiwanese heritage, comprising both first- and second-generation immigrants.

Swell’s producer and lyricist, Melisa Tien, and Swell’s music director, Tian Hui Ng, will facilitate illuminating conversations with the show’s composers and singers. Each evening will showcase three composers along with their songs, and one of the singers.

The first evening on Tuesday, June 22 features:
* Carolyn Chen
* Justine F. Chen
* Hai-Ting Chinn
* Kamala Sankaram

The second evening on Tuesday, June 29 features:
* Joshua Cerdenia
* Justine F. Chen
* Leyna Marika Papach
* Alok Kumar

ASL interpretation will be provided at both evenings. ASL interpretation of the songs will also be available and provided by Jose Gomez, Justine Rivera, and Kathleen D. Taylor, in consultation with Alexandria Wailes.

This event is free and open to the public. RSVP required. We’ll send the Zoom meeting link to all registered attendees.

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Special thanks to Council Member Margaret Chin for her support of A4 and this program with funding through the City Council’s Cultural Immigrant Initiative.