America the Melting Pot

Online Symphony Concert and Cultural Festival

AVAILABLE NOW ON DEMAND FOR ANYTIME VIEWING, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

We are pleased to present America the Melting Pot in our Global Sounds. Local Cultures. season. New West Symphony believes the arts have a critical role to play in capturing the most important stories of our times, expressing the lived experiences of all members of our society, and ultimately leading the way toward a more equitable, inclusive, and just world for all. Join us in the exploration of “America the Melting Pot” for a festival weekend including Meet the Artists and culminating with the feature concert presentation that exemplifies unity through music by presenting the works of Valerie Coleman, Florence Price, Margaret Bonds, Hazel Scott, Xavier Foley, William Grant Still, “Duke” Ellington, and Eubie Blake along with artist activists, Double bassist Xavier Foley and pianist Lara Downes.

AMERICA THE MELTING POT

MICHAEL CHRISTIE | Conductor
The Glywn and Ruth Chase Music Director

Guest Artists:
XAVIER FOLEY | Composer, Double Bass
EUNICE KIM | Violin
LARA DOWNES | Piano
ASHLEY FAATOALIA | Tenor

Concert Program:
VALERIE COLEMAN | Umoja
FLORENCE PRICE | from Piano Concerto in One Movement
HAZEL SCOTT | Peace of Mind
WILLIAM GRANT STILL | Mother and Child for Strings
MARGARET BONDS | Dream Variations
EDWARD KENNEDY “DUKE” ELLINGTON arr. Rabson | Echoes of Harlem
EUBIE BLAKE arr. Arroyo | Love Will Find a Way
MARGARET BONDS | He’s Got the Whole World in His Hand
XAVIER FOLEY | For Justice and Peace
XAVIER FOLEY | Cranberry Juice
EDWARD KENNEDY “ DUKE” ELLINGTON arr. Rabson | I’m Just a Lucky So and So

Lara Downes

Lara Downes is among the foremost American pianists of her generation, a trailblazer on and off-stage whose musical roadmap seeks inspiration from the legacies of history, family, and collective memory.

Downes’ playing has been called “ravishing” by Fanfare Magazine, “luscious, moody and dreamy” by The New York Times, and “addicting” by The Huffington Post. As a chart-topping recording artist, a powerfully charismatic performer, a curator and tastemaker, Downes is recognized as a cultural visionary on the national arts scene. Lara’s forays into the broad landscape of American music have created a series of acclaimed recordings, including America Again, selected by NPR as one of “10 Albums that Saved 2016,” and hailed as “a balm for a country riven by disunion” by the Boston Globe. Her recent Sony Classical debut release For Lenny debuted in the Billboard Top 20 and was awarded the 2017 Classical Recording Foundation Award.

Ashley Faatoalia, tenor

Often noted for his soaring tenor and warm stage presence, Ashley’s recent engagements include: The role of Antron’s father in the premiere of the Pulitzer-prize-winning Central Park Five with Long Beach Opera, The role of The Crab Man in Porgy & Bess with Seattle Opera, EUROPERAS with The Los Angeles Philharmonic and The Industry, Albert Hoffman in LSD: The Opera, with The Industry, his debut as Marco Polo in the premiere of the Emmy-Award-winning, Pulitzer-Prize-nominated, Invisible Cities with The Industry, Charles Edward in Candide with The Los Angeles Philharmonic, and many more. Ashley has also had the honor of singing The Star Spangled Banner to sold-out audiences at both Dodger Stadium and The Staples Center.

YOUR PASSPORT AWAITS!

Join us for America the Melting Pot or enjoy all 8 cultural festivals this season! Prices are per-household and include online premieres and on-demand for ‘anytime viewing‘ through September 30, 2021.