New Years Eve Concert For Peace
This is a conversation with musician Robert Sirota. The annual New Years Eve Concert for Peace this year commemorates the victims of the Emanuel AME Church racially motivated horrific massacre in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17th.
The world premiere of Prelude and Spiritual for Mother Emanuel is written for the victims and dedicated to their surviving families. The composition is performed by a remarkable 32 member chorus, soprano soloist, string orchestra, and piano in the unique sound venue of New York City’s immense Saint John The Divine Cathedral located in the Columbia University neighborhood, and that is the largest Gothic Cathedral in the world, the size of a village.
LISTEN TO THE SHOW HERE
Featured as well is Judy Collins with her songs for peace, and performances from the works of the late, eminent Leonard Bernstein, who inaugurated the New Years Eve Concerts For Peace at the Cathedral over three decades ago.
The Women Film Critics Circle Awards Ceremony
Debating their picks for this year’s best – and worst – in movies, from a distinct and provocative female perspective. Arts Express was on location live with highlights at the Ceremony this past Sunday, and the opening of the envelopes.
In the course of the WFCC Awards Ceremony, the Circle discussed the inauguration of a new category for next year, the Thrown Under The Bus Award. And in recognition of films about women such as Suffragette, Girlhood, Effie Gray, The Book Of Negroes, and The Keeping Room that were dismissively treated or marginalized. In addition, there are plans for a Thrown Under The Bus WFCC Film Festival in progress, to take place in the new year.
The Women Film Critics Circle is a gathering of national and international women’s voices presenting a fresh and differently experienced viewpoint from the primarily white male dominated film criticism world. And that prides itself on being the most racially and culturally diverse critics organization by far, in the country.