The Julia Perry Centenary Celebration and Festival: The Chamber Music of Julia Perry
The Julia Perry Centenary Celebration and Festival presents an evening of chamber music by Julia Perry. Soloists from Experiential Orchestra joined by guest soloists baritone Will Liverman, bass-baritone Donnie Ray Albert and flutist Brandon Patrick George, will perform selections from Perry’s chamber music catalog including the presumed world premiere of her Quinary Quixotic Songs as well as Six Contrasts for Baritone and Pastoral for solo flute and ensemble. This concert is presented in partnership with the Mannes School of Music at The New School College of Performing Arts.
Angela Hammond will provide an overview of Perry’s life and MacDowell Executive Director Chiwoniso Kaitano will discuss Perry’s eight stays at the nation’s preeminent artist residency program between 1954 and 1968. Discussions of Perry’s work and life continues with a panel discussion moderated by Co-Founder, Artistic Director & Violist of Castle of our Skins, Ashleigh Gordon, and panelists Afa Dworkin, President and Artistic Director of the Sphinx Organization; Loki Karuna, Interdisciplinary Arts Activist; and composer Anthony M. Kelley.
Presented by Experiential Orchestra and Videmus, the Julia Perry Centenary Celebration and Festival takes place from March 13-16 in New York City. Julia Perry was a successful and celebrated Black classical composer whose work fell into obscurity after her death in 1979; her music is now finally being revived and beginning to receive the attention it has so richly deserved. The festival celebrates Perry’s brilliance and legacy and illustrates the vibrance and importance of her music. The celebration takes place at venues across the city including Le Poisson Rouge, Mannes School of Music at The New School, the DiMenna Center for Classical Music, and Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center. Additional presenting partners include Mannes School of Music at The New School College of Performing Arts and National Concerts. WQXR is the official media partner.
