LYNX Project Amplify Series: 20-21 Premieres Concert

LYNX’s Amplify Series sets the poetry and prose of neurodivergent individuals to music as contemporary classical song. Amplify advocates for the voices of neurodivergent individuals, and adds important new repertoire to this classical vocal music genre. The LYNX Project is a nonprofit art song organization that celebrates diverse voices through newly commissioned song and connects communities through inclusive concerts and innovative educational programming.

This Amplify Series 20-21 Premieres virtual concert will be streamed on the Groupmuse website as part of the This Week from Guarneri Hall series, and tickets are available through Groupmuse ($3 to reserve, $15 at the event).

Writers whose poetry and prose is featured in this year’s musical commissions are Aiden Levy, Pablo Hernandez, Mitchell Robins, and Benjamin Smidt. These young writers are primarily non-speaking and use alternative methods of communication, including letterboarding.

The songs that feature their words include new commissions by Chicago composers Nico Gutierrez, Michelle Isaac, Liza Sobel, Pierce Gradone, and Mike McFerron, and are performed by soprano Kristina Bachrach, mezzo soprano Leah Dexter, baritone Nicholas Ward, and pianist Daniel Baer.

Program

In the Depths by Pierce Gradone / text by Benjamin Smidt

I Love You by Liza Sobel Crane / text by Mitchell Robins

Hope! by Michelle Isaac / text by Benjamin Smidt

I. Trapped
II. Faith
III. Hopeful
IV. Freed
V. Beauty

Weather Songs by Mike McFerron / text by Aiden Levy

What is in a Wind Sound
The Clouds were Piling

Having Words That Learn to Fit by Nico Gutierrez / text by Pablo Hernandez

Nighttime Meeting by Nico Gutierrez / text by Pablo Hernandez

Have a Happy Mind by Nico Gutierrez / text by Pablo Hernandez

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