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ICUJP Friday Forum
February 28th, 7:30-9:30 am Pacific
LA Chamber Orchestra and Lara Downes on Programming for our Time
RSVP AT BOTTOM OF PAGE
Event Description:
As an artist I come to sing, but as a citizen, I will always speak for peace, and no one can silence me in this. — Paul Robeson
LA Chamber Orchestra Creative Partner Lara Downes and Director of Artistic Planning Ricky Dean McWain join ICUJP for a Friday Forum focused on inclusive programming and the transformative power of the arts.
Join the conversation with our speakers:
Pianist Lara Downes has been called “a musical ray of hope” by NBC News and “an explorer whose imagination is fired by bringing notice to the underrepresented and forgotten” (The Log Journal). An iconoclast and trailblazer, her dynamic work as a sought-after soloist, Billboard Chart-topping recording artist, curator, arts activist and advocate positions her as a cultural visionary on the national arts scene.
Downes’ creative projects explore shared perspectives across genres and traditions. Her forays into the broad landscape of American music have created a unique series of acclaimed recordings, including her recent releases This Land, Love at Last and Reflections. Her 2016 album America Again was selected by NPR as one of "10 Albums that Saved 2016” and called “a balm for a country riven by disunion” by the Boston Globe.
Lara is also a highly visible media presence as the creator and host of the acclaimed NPR Music video series AMPLIFY with Lara Downes, and as the Resident Artist for Classical California KUSC. She is proud to serve as the inaugural Creative Partner of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.
Ricky Dean McWain joined Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra as the General Manager and Director of Artistic Planning in 2022. McWain’s career has focused on casting, talent development, and orchestra management since his days as a professional musician and clarinet teacher in the New York Metro area.
McWain holds two degrees from New York University in Music Performance and Romance Literatures, Languages, and Linguistics. Originally from Georgia, he is passionate about equity in the arts and empowering musical voices that consider the times we live in.
Learn More/Here's how YOU can help:
MARTÍN + SCHUMANN + PRICE Traverse the musical landscape of America from African American spirituals to soothing melodies by familiar friends. Witness the mainstage debut of NPR’s Lara Downes, showcasing the ravishing harmonies and breathtaking melodies of Florence Price’s Piano Concerto in One Movement. Welcome back Jaime Martín as he leads the orchestra in Robert Schumann’s definitive second symphony. |
7:30 - 7:35 Log in and socialize
7:35 - 7:45 Welcome and introductions
7:45 - 7:50 Reflection (5 min. maximum)
7:50 - 9:15 Program and Q&A
9:15 - 9:20 Announcements
9:20 - 9:30 Closing circle and prayer
Start your morning with us!
Facilitator: Rick Banales
Reflector: Steve Rohde
Here's how to join the online meeting:
To join by video conference, you'll need to download the Zoom app on your computer or mobile device. Click on the link to join the meeting and then enter the Meeting ID number and passcode. You'll be able to see slides and video, as well as speakers and other attendees.
If you prefer to join by phone, you'll be prompted to enter the Meeting ID number and passcode. You won't be able to see the visuals or attendees, but you can view them on the meeting video recording afterward.
If you're new to Zoom and would like to use the video option, we recommend you download the app well ahead of time.
ICUJP Friday Forum 02/28/25
Time: 07:30 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
RSVP AT BOTTOM OF PAGE
*Meeting controls for call-in attendees:
To mute/unmute yourself: *6
To raise hand: *9
(To find a dial-in number closer to you, go here.)
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Please note: Our Friday Forums and other events are open to the public. By attending, you consent to having your voice and likeness recorded, photographed, posted on ICUJP's website and social media, and included in ICUJP materials and publications for noncommercial purposes. If you don't want to be photographed or recorded, please let the facilitator know.
Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace recognizes the Gabrieliño Tongva as the past, present, and future caretakers of the land, water, and cultural resources in the unceded territory of Los Angeles.
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