The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra (WCO) will be unveiling an ambitious multi-year recording project aimed at showcasing the groundbreaking works of living composers of color titled “Musical Landscapes in Color” this fall.
This year’s performance, “Harmony in Black,” is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 13, 7:30 p.m. and tickets will go on sale in early August. Spearheaded by the WCO in collaboration with Composer in Residence, Dr. Bill Banfield, a distinguished composer, musicologist, and advocate for diversity in the arts, this initiative represents a significant step towards diversifying the classical music landscape, according to a press release from WCO, and aims to shed light on the immense talent and cultural contributions of composers of color, bringing their music to audiences far and wide.
“We need to celebrate art that’s being created today,” says Joe Loehnis, CEO of the WCO, in a statement. “This project will have a profound impact on the classical music community by giving long-overdue recognition to composers of color. By embracing their talent and artistic contributions, this initiative aims to challenge existing paradigms and foster a more equitable and inclusive future for classical music.”
Additionally, the inaugural recording of the project will feature the extraordinary talents of composer Patrice Rushen, a multifaceted artist renowned for her remarkable contributions to jazz, R&B, and popular music.
The performance will be recorded and produced by renowned record label Albany Records, based in New York, and will be released in February 2024.
