Through Struggle to the Stars
“Through Struggle to the Stars” is an orchestral celebration of communities that have demonstrated courage and strength in the face of adversity, featuring Latinx immigrant/refugee youth from the Chelsea Collaborative and members of the Women’s Chorus, a program for women experiencing homelessness and severe poverty, in addition to classics of the repertoire.
The concert will include music by Carreño, Granadino, and Tchaikovsky, as well as a new commission by J. Andrés Ballesteros.
PROGRAM:
Meetup by the Women's Chorus
Ballesteros, "Voz de Chelsea" (World Premiere)
– Featuring student performers from Chelsea
Carreño, "Serenade for Strings"
Granadino, "Bajo el Almendro"
Tchaikovsky, "Symphony No. 5"
ABOUT THE COMMISSION:
Composer and Eureka Artistic Advisor Andres Ballesteros has been working with students from Chelsea Collaboratives "Deseo Soñar" (I Want to Dream) program on creating a musical work based off of their ideas and musical decisions for singers and orchestra. The students will perform the premiere of this work together with Eureka Ensemble.
ABOUT THE DESEO SOÑAR STUDENTS:
In the last 12 months alone, the Chelsea Public School district experienced an increase of 452 immigrant students - 360 of whom arrived recently after fleeing their Central American homes. Many of those children and youth arrive in Chelsea as unaccompanied minors and nearly all have past histories of trauma stemming form the experience of extreme violence and poverty in their home countries, their journeys north, and/or detentions before arriving in Chelsea.
Through arts, cultural exploration, and social-emotional skill-building, we help newly arrived immigrant children and unaccompanied minors find stability, support, and joy in their new home. We provide a safe space for youth to explore their creativity, reflect on their journeys, and connect to peers who have had similar experiences. Support extends to the parents and families of youth participants to address basic needs, mental and physical health, and other barriers, in order to help families thrive in Chelsea.
ABOUT THE WOMEN'S CHORUS:
The Women’s Chorus (TWC) connects women experiencing poverty and homelessness with the healing power of music. Since its launch, the chorus has engaged over 80 of Boston’s most vulnerable women from many diverse backgrounds, ages 19 to 82. TWC serves as a unique therapeutic approach to healing, dignity, and empowerment and offers a direct link to the performing arts and an opportunity for singers to experience creativity and growth, both on an individual and communal level, while fostering meaningful relationships with professional musicians. Performances raise funds in support of causes that chorus members select.
