Sliding Glass Doors

Art at its best can simultaneously be a window, and a mirror (in the right lighting) and a portal through which we can walk through to engage with the subject. In this program, we slide that door open to walk through and engage with a culture or perspective that may not be our own. For this concert we will feature renowned conductor, composer, and educator Dr. Brandon Waddles in a program of his own music as well as others rooted in the legacy of Black Americans. Dr. Waddles’ own compositions are steeped in the history of African American sacred music, including that of the Spiritual tradition, as well as contemporary gospel, while developing his own musical style and language that pulls on those sources and many others. With the help of a grant from the California Arts Council, we hope to engage in workshops with local students, and host a…