2019-697-E Arts - Wendy Spitzer arts grant

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DocuSign Envelope ID: 10E8B343-2156-4874-8BD1-45454A122F65 the chance to come to the US in January 2020, and I would like to bring her to Orange County. This is a chance for two different populations to experience an international artist who uses music, and vocal music in particular, to connect people (often vulnerable populations). Specifically, I have set up free performances/workshops in two venues in Chapel Hill: one at the Ronald McDonald House (RMH) for families staying there while their child undergoes treatment at UNC Hospitals, and one at The Nightlight, a venue downtown. Please see the attached letters of support from both venues. Regarding the timeline, we are planning for five days of rehearsal in North Carolina, followed by two performances in January 2020. The music has mostly been written: I am traveling to London in June 2019 so we can complete the compositions we have been working on— these will be featured in the two performances (see work sample videos #1 and #2). 1 will also have time for workshop planning and preparation during this June 2019 trip. In terms of the workshops, Oxford-educated Genevieve Dawson has developed a method of vocal improvisation and deep listening that can specifically engage people without musical training. From her workshop description: "I have been running circle singing and improvisation workshops for small groups of singers (10 - 15 people usually). The workshop is very flexible to the individual make-up of each group. I have developed a practice that combines instructional scores, elements of deep listening and circle singing. Participants of my sessions have feelings of catharsis, creativity, and connection to each other. The workshops give them the opportunity to explore their voice and creative expression in collaboration with others. They also connect with a more profound way of listening to the world and each other than they may encounter in the every day, and often recount feelings of peacefulness afterwards. In times of transience and uncertainty, singing together can help ground us and feel more connected to ourselves and each other. It's also a lot of fun!" She has run these workshops for teenage girls in Morocco and activists in Cairo; she also facilitates community choirs in London, including The Advocacy Choir, for the socially isolated in the city. I feel this is a great opportunity for folks in Orange County to experience what she can do. In terms of our musical performance, we have been collaborating as a duo together since 2016. Genevieve is part of the network I forged while in graduate school in music at Goldsmiths, University of London. We write dramatic, chamber- and jazz-influenced pop music and perform on bass, piano, and voice. As our collaboration is very long-distance, we can play live only occasionally. This is therefore another rare chance for this kind of performance.