Keep Cathedrals High: An Orchestral Witness to Black Resilience

Activist orchestra The Dream Unfinished (TDU) will present Keep Cathedrals High: An Orchestral Witness to Black Resilience, a concert marking its 10th anniversary season and first return to New York City stages since the COVID-19 pandemic. Presented in partnership with the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), Keep Cathedrals High features musical selections exploring topics that touch on themes of Black disability. George Steel will conduct works by composers Valerie Capers, Julia Perry and David Baker; and poet James Emanuel will also be featured to highlight the achievements and perspectives of disabled Black artists. Curated speakers such as Britney Wilson and Vince Warren will shed light on the current state of Black disability justice and share best practices for those seeking to uplift communities impacted by both racism and ableism.

We believe that our shows should be available to everyone. For the safety of our immunocompromised communities and in the spirit of disability justice please see information regarding accessibility accommodations below, as well as masking requirements for attendees.

PROGRAM

Julia Perry - Pastoral

Valerie Capers - Song of the seasons

Joel Bentley Thompson - Love's a Crazy Scrapbook (World premiere)

David Baker - Excerpts from Refractions

FEATURING

Dashon Burton, bass-baritone

Ju Hyeon Han, soprano

Thapelo Masita, cello

Britney Wilson, Professor of Law and Director of the Civil Rights and Disability Justice Clinic at New York Law School

Vince Warren, Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Rights

The Dream Unfinished Orchestra

Following the concert, a catered VIP reception will be held in the Schomburg Center’s Courtyard. Speakers, musicians, guest artists, and TDU staff will be in attendance for conversation and connection. The reception will be held outdoors and there will be cocktail tables and benches for VIP-ticket holders.

This concert is supported by funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Accessibility

Please email us at aW5mbyB8IHRoZWRyZWFtdW5maW5pc2hlZCAhIG9yZw== for other payment options (such as pay as you wish) and inquiries regarding the accessibility information below.

We believe that our shows should be available to everyone. We prioritize inclusion in both arts and activism spaces, and we’re thrilled to continue expanding our accessibility options!

For the safety of our immunocompromised communities and in the spirit of disability justice, we will be requiring masking in indoor spaces during this event when not actively eating or drinking. Masks will also be provided at the door.

• The Dream Unfinished will provide access for d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing audience members and is partnering with for a Deaf Artistic Consultant, ASL Interpretation and Realtime Captioning.
• ASL-Interpreted performances feature an interpreter who will stand in a clearly visible position and interpret the spoken and auditory aspects of the show using American Sign Language.
• Designated seats will be allocated for d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing audience members to have the best view of the interpreter.
• Realtime Captioning will be available via StreamText and instructions will be provided at the venue.
• Anyone who wants to view captions will just need a laptop or mobile device with internet access. For the best experience we recommend bringing a fully-charged device.

This service is being provided, in part, by The Center for Constitutional Rights.

SignNexus is committed to setting the standard for excellence and efficiency as providers of ADA-compliant communication services that accommodate the diverse language needs and personal identities of Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing individuals. Founded by an ASL interpreter from 3 generations of Deaf family, this local Minority-and-Woman-Owned agency thoughtfully curates each assignment to help ensure quality and consumer satisfaction.

About The Center for Constitutional Rights

The Center for Constitutional Rights works with communities under threat to fight for justice and liberation through litigation, advocacy, and strategic communications. Since 1966, we have taken on oppressive systems of power, including structural racism, gender oppression, economic inequity, and governmental overreach.

About The Dream Unfinished

The Dream Unfinished is an activist orchestra. Its mission is to use classical music as a platform to engage audiences in dialogues surrounding social and racial justice. TDU has people of color in the orchestra, in the music, behind the scenes, and in the audiences. We are an orchestra that looks and sounds like New York City, and through music, we explore pressing social issues affecting our communities. For complete event listings and other additional information, please visit thedreamunfinished.org.

Credits to Zainab Ajose for the wonderful banner.

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