Come find out what composer Sage Lewis has been working on at the Beach! Lewis will play clips and discuss his newest project, “far away”, an original choral work for children in the US and Cuba.
Two children’s choirs, The National Children’s Chorus (USA) and Coro Diminuto (Cuba), were interviewed about their countries, the meaning of friendship, and their fears and dreams. Their answers were incorporated into the far away libretto, and in the final performances (to take place in each country), the sound and video of the “far away” choir will be projected onto the live choir to create a moving correspondence between children separated by circumstances but brought together through music.
Lewis will be joined by the music director and members of the National Children’s Chorus, who will discuss their contributions to “far away”.
The World Premiere of “far away” will take place this November 20th in Havana at a UNICEF concert celebrating the International Children’s Rights Accord. The US Premiere will take place at the National Children’s Chorus’ “Nuestra Música” Winter Concert at Santa Monica’s Broad Stage on December 18th, 2010. Composed by Sage Lewis and produced over the past year, this multimedia musical work was commissioned by Center Theatre Group’s 2009 Sherwood Award, which encourages artistic exploration and celebrates innovation in the theatre.
Sage Lewis is a Los Angeles-based composer who writes music for live performance, film/video, and interactive media. He uses a variety of media to explore properties of international space and defy the confines of distance. His work has been presented by the Havana Film Festival, REDCAT, Miami Light Project, Centro Cultural Español, FUNDarte, and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Performing as a conductor, pianist, percussionist, and laptop player, his music sounds like a meeting between Arvo Pärt, Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, and Sigur Rós. His work has been lauded by journalists, institutions, and audiences on both sides of the Florida Straits including American Theatre Magazine, Miami Herald, LA Weekly, Granma (official newspaper of Cuba), Telemundo, Minneapolis Star Tribune, and El Mundo (Spain). He received an MFA from California Institute of the Arts and a BA in Music Composition from the Oberlin Conservatory. He is the recipient of the 2009 Sherwood Award administered by Center Theatre Group.
Composer: www.sagelewismusic.com
Center Theatre Group: www.centertheatregroup.org
National Children’s Chorus: www.nationalchildrenschorus.com
Project Por Amor: www.projectporamor.com
Stop by early for information on the Beach House and Guest House tours by docents from the Santa Monica Conservancy before every evening event, first come, first served. PLEASE NOTE that the Back on the Beach Cafe closes at 3pm on Mondays, and there are no other food or drink facilities onsite – but the Beach House is a great place for a picnic!
Tickets are free but seating is limited and reservations are required. If you would like to attend, please reserve at http://beachculture50.eventbrite.com. Please plan to arrive by 6:15pm to retain your reservation. Late seating, even for reservation-holders, is not guaranteed. To adjust or cancel your reservation for this event, email beachhouse@smgov.net. We appreciate your keeping in touch!
Directions: The Beach House is located at 415 Pacific Coast Highway, Santa Monica, CA 90402 on the west side of Pacific Coast Highway, a half mile north of the California Incline and a half mile south of Chautauqua Blvd. Plenty of public parking is available – enter off PCH at the Beach House Way traffic light.
Parking: $3/hr or $6/day, but event parking for this community cultural event is free after 5pm. The facility is also easily accessible by foot or bike from the beach bike path, although the beach closes at sunset. There is ample bike parking at racks throughout the site – remember to bring your own lock.
Other events: To view & make reservations for future free Beach=Culture events, check http://www.eventbrite.com/org/199463539.
General Info: For hours, events and more, visit http://www.annenbergbeachhouse.com, or call 310-458-4904. Back on the Beach Caf̩ is open daily 8am Р8pm (8am Р3pm Mondays).
