Will Wickham
Photo courtesy of Will Wickham and The Cantata Singers.
Photo courtesy of Will Wickham and The Cantata Singers.
The Collaboration
Composer Will Wickham collaborated with the Cantata Singers to create a body of work sharing stories of regional residents through choral music. Works represented marginalized voices in the region from the time of abolition and the Civil War through to the present day. Music was inspired by interviews of people whose gender identity, skin color, political stance and/or ethnic background stifled their ability to be seen and heard. While the choir benefited directly from the opportunity to premiere so many new and diverse works, the highlight was the chance to attract new and diverse audience members both through the music and the opportunity to perform in new spaces. All five concerts were offered free of charge and were open to all, with the final performance held in a public park skating rink, enabling the music and stories to be shared with everyone.
The Organization
The Cantata Singers mission is to provide high quality, free performances of great music for the entertainment and education of audiences and singers. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the core of their work.