Category Archives: Weill Music Institute

A Time Like This: Music for Change at Carnegie Hall

On March 11 young artist Noga Cabo (seen at the end of this post) performed her piece, “Stephen Said!” about scientist Stephen Hawking, who died three days later, on March 14. Here is a feature about Noga with excerpts of the song. — B.P.

From time to time I’ve attended celebrations in Carnegie Hall’s education wing, where the young participants including at risk youth in the Weill Music Institute songwriting program present their new material. Every student sings an original song with a back-up band. I can feel how the faculty has effectively nudged key phrases, word dumps and free verse into songs with beginnings, middles and ends. Creativity takes shape. The performances can be passionate.

A Time Like This onstage at Carnegie Hall .. (c) 2018 Richard Termine

Yesterday, March 11, the project scaled up – way up – with a concert featuring student and professional vocalists, the magnificent  Wadleigh High School Choir and Songs of Solomon inspirational ensemble, the A Time Like This Band, Future Music Project Ensemble, Free Verse Poets and more. Images, patterns and colors played on the walls. Hats off to conductor Kenny Seymour at the keyboard. He arranged and orchestrated every piece. To watch him is to know what’s going on.  Continue reading A Time Like This: Music for Change at Carnegie Hall