Spirit of the Child

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9
Time: 4:00pm - 6:00pm

Cost: $12 general admission; $10 students

With fiddles in hand; dancing feet ready to leap; a chorus of harmonious sound; and words that speak of courage and steadfastness; a one-of-a-kind ensemble of talented youth from the south central Los Angeles communities unites to offer works that inspire, motivate and transform. This ambitious and visionary project led by Artistic Director Lesa Terry assembles young string players, dancers, spoken word artists and singers from an alliance of L.A.-based mentorship programs. With an exciting convergence of aesthetics, styles and disciplines, the uninhibited energy and dynamic intellect of each child carries a message of great promise for the future of our city.

As a violinist, composer, director and educator, Lesa Terry is an artist whose creative genius brings distinctive innovation to musical performance. She believes that embracing the ‘spirit of the child’ is our universal responsibility. With her organization, Center for World Strings, Terry focuses on the mentorship of inner-city youth through the arts.

Emerging Voices is made possible through the participation of: Lula Washington Dance Theater; College Bound For Kids; Harmony Project and Renaissance Music Charter School; Voices of Hope Children’s Gospel Choir; vocalist Kathy Bailey Cunningham; and hip-hop artist True Ace.

Students from the MFA Documentary Program at the New York Film Academy, Los Angeles, will be documenting the following World Festival of Sacred Music events: Omo Aché Afro-Cuban Music & Dance Co., Emerging Voices: Spirit of the Child, and Mare Vaporum.