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Weekend pick: Celebrating African-American History Month with a livestream premiere from the Fresno Philharmonic

Composer Jasmine Barnes.

The Fresno Philharmonic is marking African-American History Month with a video streaming series featuring performances and conversations between music director Rei Hotoda and African-American composers whose works were performed recently by the orchestra.

This weekend, composer Jasmine Barnes and her work “Resistance” is featured. The video premieres at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, and can be viewed, along with other episodes in the series, through February. During the live premiere, viewers can chat in real-time with Maestro Hotoda in the chat room on YouTube.

That’s something you can’t do in a live performance!

Here’s the direct YouTube link.

The Fresno Philharmonic performed “Resistance” in February 2021.

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From the orchestra:

Recently commissioned by the Washington National Opera to write a piece for the Kennedy Center’s 50th anniversary celebrations, composer Jasmine Barnes is on a much-deserved meteoric rise. Hear Rei Hotoda and Jasmine talk about her music, her background in band and church music, and her role as an educator.

Upcoming video premieres are:

Feb, 19: Kevin Day – ‘(loco)motion’

Twenty-something composing powerhouse Kevin Day’s new work (loco)motion received its world premiere by the Fresno Philharmonic under the direction of Rei Hotoda in April of 2021. For this segment, Rei and Kevin take a deep dive into this incredible music that inspires and evokes energy.

Feb, 26: Adolphus Hailstork – ‘An American Fanfare’

Music fit for a president is just one of the many accolades in composer Adolphus Hailstork’s illustrious biography—his Fanfare on “Amazing Grace” was featured as part of the 2021 Presidential Inauguration. Rei and Adolphus discuss his creative process and several of his landmark pieces, including An American Fanfare which was performed by Rei Hotoda and the Fresno Philharmonic in January 2021.


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Covering the arts online in the central San Joaquin Valley and beyond. Lover of theater, classical music, visual arts, the literary arts and all creative endeavors. Former Fresno Bee arts critic and columnist. Graduate of Columbia University and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Excited to be exploring the new world of arts journalism.

donaldfresnoarts@gmail.com

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