Es el último mes de la temporada musical “oficial” y quienes teman al aburrimiento que impondrá el verano se apresurarán a agendar las atracciones de mayo, que por cierto son muchas y del más variado tenor. He aquí una lista para aprovechar todo lo posible:

Preludiando un intenso noviembre musical, resonó en el espléndido patio de Vizcaya la “Fanfarria de San Edmunsbury” para tres trompetas de Benjamin Britten, original inicio de la décima temporada de Illuminarts y entusiasta comienzo para la gestión de Chad Goodman – flamante director artístico de la entidad creada por Amanda Crider – quien estuvo a cargo del diseño del programa. Una clara evocación a Halloween en noche de luna llena con el son de las trompetas llegando desde distintos rincones de la mansión de James Deering.

It is “the” question that every new music graduate asks himself, the same one Chad Goodman raised in his book “You Earned a Music Degree. Now What?” the distressing abyss that opens above all recently graduated is especially pressing in every artistic discipline. In his case, both luck and perseverance have gone hand in hand. Entering a dialogue with the young conductor confirms his enthusiasm and contagious energy, removing all doubt that Goodman, in addition to honoring the meaning of his surname, embodies the optimistic message of the new generation.

March is Women’s History Month. We may only have one week left, but SoFlo is definitely not done celebrating. There’s a special series happening at one of our local landmarks that’s honoring the women who helped shape our community.

Brittany Graham’s got a voice, and she’s not afraid to use it to tell the story of South Florida historian and founder of the Black Archives, Dr. Dorothy Jenkins Fields.

Brittany Graham: “It’s really a special time, and you can tell how special it is to everyone that’s involved.” Brittany is one of three soloists performing in “Through the Storm: Women Walking in Greatness.”

“Through the Storm: Women Walking in Greatness” highlights influential women who transformed the landscape of South Florida. Kunya Rowley, Amanda Crider and Rebecca Peterson from Hued Songs’ Artistic Director, Illumin Arts’ Artistic Director and Vizcaya's Community Programs Manager, respectively, joined Inside South Florida to share how the production brings these characters' historical contributions to life.

“When a baby comes to the workshop – from Liberty City, Overtown, Miami Gardens, Richmond Heights – and they are comfortable putting that pen in their hand and writing in their voice about what they see on a day-to-day basis, that’s the part that I care about,” said In YOUnison collaborating artist Arsimmer McCoy.

She’s talking about her experience in this year’s monthlong summer program organized by Vizcaya Museum & Gardens and IlluminArts, for people of all ages to create art in different mediums, together.

Free community workshops were held throughout this month that culminated with a final community performance June 24.

Vizcaya is a work of art, and it’s home to an art event called In YOUnison. We’re gonna see how it lets guests get their creativity on and be one with the community.

Summer 2022 is about to get artsy. At Vizcaya, guests can take part in interactive workshops hosted by local artists.

Rebecca Peterson: “In YOUnison is the 2022 installation of Vizcaya’s annual participatory public art program. We commission a bunch of artists to come and envision a work here at Vizcaya, and then we invite the community in to work with those artists.” This year, you could work alongside three different artists and learn some new skills. Rebecca Peterson: “The whole point, really, is to give people time to be together and be creative, and that’s what you can expect at the workshops.”

La reconocida cantante mezzosoprano Amanda Crider, fundó IlluminArts en 2013 para presentar al público de Miami actuaciones de música clásica de clase mundial, pero con un toque diferente.

La más reciente, titulada “To Reach the Light” (“Para Alcanzar la Luz”, en español), combina ocho nuevas obras vocales encargadas en 2020 a los compositores contemporáneos Evelin Seppar, Carla Kihlstedt, Elliot Cole, Jenny Olivia Johnson, David Shapiro y el compositor residente en Miami, Shawn Crouch. La oferta se redondea con pinturas contemporáneas de vanguardia de Sterling Ruby y esculturas de Kennedy Yanko.

No todos se atreven con Villa Vizcaya, oasis miamense, insólito castillo sobre la bahia. Pero, después de la noche de Halloween 2021, para quienes se atrevieron a Otra vuelta de tuerca de Benjamin Britten, Vizcaya ya no volverá a ser la misma…Quien en primera instancia se atrevió fue Amanda Crider, creadora de Illuminarts, que en su inaugural producción de una ópera completa se anota su mejor trabajo hasta la fecha. 

Seven years ago, Miami-based mezzo-soprano Amanda Crider settled in to enjoy a chamber music program in Washington, D.C., that featured art song (poetry set to music) – a genre of music she adores – when something unusual happened.

How do you stay connected to the people and issues you care about during the pandemic? We heard from a group of community organizers, leaders of civic organizations and business owners about the steps they’re taking to remain connected.

“Turn of the Screw: A new, site-specific, multimedia community collaboration:” IlluminArts, in conjunction with Nu Deco Ensemble and the National YoungArts Foundation, will present a new production of Benjamin Britten’s chamber opera, “The Turn of the Screw,” inspired by and performed at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens