Johnny Gandelsman: This is America

1 College Street,Worcester MA 01610

05 October, 2021

Description

Grammy-award winning violinist and producer Johnny Gandelsman returns to Holy Cross "...sparklingly personal Bach, shorn of grandeur, lofted by a spirit of dance, and as predictable as the flight of a swallow." --The Boston Globe A founding member of Brooklyn Rider and a member of the Silkroad Ensemble, Grammy-award winning violinist and producer Johnny Gandelsman returns to Holy Cross with a solo program featuring J.S. Bach’s Cello Suite No. 3 on the violin and selections from “This Is America,” a new commissioning and recording project featuring over twenty new works for solo violin, written by American and US-based artists. As we live through a time of disruption and disconnection, with COVID-19, the recent US election, deep polarization, entrenched systemic racism and police brutality, it is clear that the years 2020 and 2021 will be seared in our collective memories for a long time. Developed in response to this turbulent period in history and commissioned by twenty presenters in eleven states and Washington DC, “This is America” celebrates America's rich cultural tapestry and its myriad perspectives, thoughts and ideas, offering a vivid counterpoint to the idea that this land can be understood through a singular, dominant point of view. Each composition in the anthology reflects on the current state of American society in a personal and intimate way, looking through an unflinching lens at universal topics like separation, loneliness, hope and love. Photo: Shervin Lainez Arts Transcending Borders (ATB) at The College of the Holy Cross is a visiting artist-in-residence program, which brings distinguished artists to campus to engage with students, faculty, staff, and the greater Worcester community through various workshops, master classes, public lectures, and performances. In tandem, ATB sponsors dynamic programs throughout the year, ranging from lectures by renowned scholars and artists, to unique performances, exhibitions, and installations.