Coming Home

532 Center Street,Santa Cruz CA 95060

14 May, 2023

Description

Musical Soulmates Performers’ Collective is proud to present “Coming Home”, an evening of performances featuring a kaleidoscope of music: compositions by SaintSaëns, William Grant Still, Florence Price, Eric Whitacre, Paul Sanchez and our own Akindele Bankole. There is a strong rhythmic element, including Five Hebrew Love Songs for Voice, Tambourine , Violin and Piano, and a calling forth of our homeland and mothercountries. For example, we feature Vivien Bassouamina, dancer, from Congo, to embody the African Dancer as imagined by William Grant Still in his formidable Suite for Violin and Piano. Still, a Black composer (1895-1978) from Mississippi, titled the first movement 'African Dancer'. In radical collabaration, we bring his music forward. We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Brianna Conrey to the stage to perform Florence Price's Fantasie Négre No 1. in E Minor. Akindele Bankole will premier two of his compositions: Irin Ajo and Eleda in his native Yoruban. Soprano Lori Schulman will deliver an ancient Sappho poem exquietely set by Paul Sanchez. Performances by: Shannon D’Antonio, Violin Kris Yenney, “Cello Lori Schulman, Soprano Akindele Bankole, Tenor, Vivien Bassouamina, Dancer Brianna Conrey, Piano Kate Saphir, Piano and Director of Musical Soulmates