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Focusing on Peace

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Paul Carey pointed me to his latest blog post about a colleague’s recent concert that focused on peace.
 
Read a little here and then travel to Paul’s blog for more.
 
My good friend Paul LaPrade, a humble genius, presented a program on September 10th (note, not September 11th) entilted “A Concert for Peace 7.8.9.10.11” in Rockford Illinois at the historic Coronado Theater. Paul’s intention was to avoid the painful date of the 11th and focus on peace and how we all must strive to achieve it.
 
Paul worked in cooperation with the Rockford Interfaith Council in this large undertaking, as it involved speakers from seven faiths plus eight choirs (thus the creative title 7.8.9.10.11). Yet despite the size of the undertaking it all played out in a relaxed, wonderfully creative and introspective way.
 
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The speakers, representing the Native American tradition, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Baha‘i, for the most part stayed away from referencing 9/11 imagery and pain. Of course we all knew it was a subtext- yet their message for September 10th was of peace and what insight each religion, in its best hours not its worst, could share with us in our quest for peace.

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  1. I also had the pleasure of taking part in a beautiful event at Trinity Wall Street in NYC on Sept. 9.  There, Julian Wachner (Director of Music and Arts at Trinity, among others) put together a day of music featuring choirs from NY, D.C., Penn culminating in a mass choir concert with orchestra and soloists from the MET.  I had the priviledge of doing the prelude where I created a spontaneous choir with the audience and then conducting Anthony Furnivall’s arr. of ‘Amazing Grace’ in the concert.  To hear the event in it’s entirety go to:
     
     
    It was an amazing experience and deep respect to Julian and the Trinity Choir for creating such a wonderful event.
     

  2. Dear Philip,
     
    Here in Los Angeles, the organization of Interfaith Leaders, One Light, also had a program on 9.10 based on the theme of Peace.  Titled One Light, One Peace, One World, the event took place on the steps of LA City Hall at sunset.  Speakers included those from the Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Christian, Catholic faiths, a Native American group along with Mayor Villaragosa and members of the Los Angeles City Council.  A choir of Interfaith voices sang the Preamble from my “A Choral Quilt of Hope” based on Susan Suntree’s adaptation of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.  It was truly a moving and memorable evening.
     
    For more information on this event, please visit:

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