I am a cellist working on recording and performing works of music by women and people of color to solidify their place in the history of music and celebrate the voices of historically marginalizes people in the US. As women of color in the classical music world the Lotus Chamber Music Collective string quartet, we work to ensure that the stories and voices of historically marginalized peoples are empowered and that the next generation of diverse musicians can see their identities represented in music history. We are currently working on, "String Quartet No. 5. - Rosa Parks" by Daniel Bernard Roumain, "String Quartet E flat major" Fanny Mendelssohn, and "Five Folk Songs in Counterpoint" by Florence B. Price. These pieces will be explored in depth within the quartet and then shared with the public through concerts, educational events for students, and recordings.
Due to COVID, our string quartet has been unable to meet due to inadequate space to rehearse. With a space, we will be able to rehearse, record, and share our recordings widely with new audiences, young students, and more. We can bring these these pieces to life and record them for current and new audiences. In our research, the marginalization of women and BIPOC composers have engrained the idea that stories of these peoples are not worth the time, respect, or attention as their white-male counterparts. We aim to change the landscape of the stories represented on stages for generations to come while educating and empowering audiences through representation. This project will culminate in a recorded performance where we talk about the composers, history of women and BIPOC people in music, provide educational materials for students, and perform the music.
Peerspace is on a mission to bring people together. We believe it is impossible to achieve that goal unless we also fight for equality and access to resources in the communities we serve.
Having a space to gather, create, and exchange ideas is an important part of any movement. In order to magnify voices that are often quieted, Peerspace will sponsor venues for people who challenge prejudice and fight for social justice and equality.
Each quarter, we will sponsor space for three projects that are relevant to our community. These projects can range from fundraisers and educational initiatives to art exhibits and photo series.
