November 2, 2022 Submitted by South Shore Conservatory
South Shore Conservatory (SSC) announced that its Kathy O. Czerny Innovation Fund has awarded grants to two faculty initiatives for fiscal year 2023: SSC Transform, which uses music education as a vehicle to promote social awareness and social justice, and One World, which partners SSC Youth Orchestra (SSCYO) and SSC Community Voices (CV) chorus in a joint artistic effort that will focus on climate change.
The Kathy O. Czerny Innovation Fund (KCIF) was founded in 2020 to further South Shore Conservatory’s mission and better serve its community by providing financial support to faculty and staff in the creation and implementation of innovative and forward-thinking programming, established in honor of the former SSC President’s 14 years of service.
Under the leadership of SSC Youth Orchestra Program Director Elijah Langille and Creative Arts Therapies Director Kristi Faby, One World: A Collaboration between SSC Youth Orchestra, SSC Community Voices, and Mother Nature brings together two SSC programs with the goals of promoting cross-departmental collaboration and inclusion as well as raising awareness about and funds toward combating climate change on the South Shore.
Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor Steven Karidoyanes will compose an original piece for chorus and orchestra with the theme of the environment in mind. This One World work will be premiered by SSCYO and CV at a Trustees of the Reservation site in May of 2023. This special project helps to both draw attention to climate change and develop students' musicianship.
SSC Transform, now in its second cycle, centers around the annual commission of a new musical composition that explores a social justice topic. Conceptualized by Summer Music Festival (SMF) Managing Director & Artistic Partner Dr. Eric Laprade and SMF faculty member Dr. Lidia Chang, the program affirms music’s role as a vehicle for social change and seeks to improve our communities through music creation, education, and performance. The program includes the commission of a teaching curriculum to accompany the composition, equipping music educators with the tools to effectively investigate and explore these oftentimes complex topics.
The SSC Transform commissioned work is due to be premiered by Summer Music Festival’s Festival Wind Ensemble at SSC’s Carr Amphitheater in Hingham on July 28, 2023. The selected composer-in-residence will be on campus to work with SMF students and partner school educators two or three days prior to the performance.
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