Min Kwon ~ America/Beautiful

18 Stirling Road,Watchung NJ 07069

23 October, 2021

Description

All in-house events and programs will require certification of vaccination and masking. The Watchung Arts Center is delighted and honored to present internationally-celebrated pianist, arts advocate and educator Min Kwon and her vision of America/Beautiful in a solo performance on Saturday, October 23 at 8PM. America/Beautiful is the creation of Korean-born American musician Min Kwon, who commissioned a diverse group of more than 70 of today’s leading American composers to each compose a variation on “America the Beautiful.” In the end, she’s produced a meaningful, poignant, and powerful record that speaks of the resilience and invention of all Americans during this time. Brilliantly talented artist, Kwon, excels in a versatile career that encompasses concerti, solo recitals, and chamber music appearances, while in high demand around the world as pedagogue, arts advocate, and administrator. She has held professional engagements in over 60 countries on seven continents and all 50 U.S. states, and currently is the Professor of Piano at Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University since 2002. Dr. Kwon is also the founder and director of the Center for Musical Excellence (CME), a nonprofit dedicated to mentoring and supporting gifted young musicians, and it is through CME that she has commissioned the composers for America/Beautiful. Kwon's hope is to paint a sonic picture of her adopted country in all of its sprawling complexity, and ultimately try to find the beauty at the core of the American experiment and its credo of e pluribus unum (out of many, one). "As an immigrant, America has so many different meanings to me. These past few years have left us so deeply divided, and I have often asked myself what kind of a country I will be leaving to my two daughters - whose birthdays happen to fall on President's Day and the Fourth of July. Ultimately this project is about embracing our diversity, and remembering that by understanding, appreciating, and celebrating our differences, we become stronger both as individuals and as a country. The fact that 70 composers can hear the same song in a completely different way is, to me, something truly beautiful." Min Kwon. The 70+ composers who have contributed to America/Beautiful offer a true cross-section of America, representing all ages, races, genders and backgrounds. The group includes multiple winners of Grammys, Emmys, MacArthur "Genius" Grants, Pulitzer, Grawemeyer, Guggenheim, Rome, and Doris Duke Prizes, and more. "Discovery Composers" are Min Kwon's selections of new and undiscovered talents, chosen for their musical vision, deep passion and drive, humility, plus a certain sparkle in their personality! The Watchung Arts Center (WAC) thrives in historic Watchung in Somerset County, NJ. The nonprofit, volunteer-run Center excels in cultivating an eclectic mix of professional and emerging artists in the performing and visual arts. Quality works in fine arts, exciting music, and comedy events are presented to enthusiastic audiences. The Watchung Arts Center offers new art exhibitions each month, performances in music, comedy, and improv, and adult and youth classes in drawing, photography, dance, meditation, yoga and much more.