ROCHESTER, NY – In the aftermath of the horrific terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C., the Eastman School of Music will present for the Rochester community a benefit concert featuring the powerful Mozart Requiem. It will be held at 3 p.m., Sunday, September 23, in Eastman Theatre (60 Gibbs St.) and is free and open to the public. Monetary donations accepted at the door will be directed to the American Red Cross New York City Disaster Relief Fund.
This special concert – intended as a way to honor and remember the victims and heroes of the national tragedy – will feature the Eastman Philharmonia, the School’s premier student orchestra, in its first performance of the new academic year. Several members of the Eastman faculty also have chosen to perform in the orchestra. A chorus of more than 200 – comprising Eastman students, faculty, and staff, as well as singers from 20 choruses of the Greater Rochester Choral Consortium – will sing. Soloists will be Sandra Boysen, Riki Connaughton (both from the Hochstein Music School faculty), Derrick Smith (of Eastman’s Community Education Division faculty), and the newest member of Eastman’s voice faculty, Robert Swensen. William Weinert, director of choral activities at Eastman and one of the organizers of the concert, will conduct.
"When grief goes beyond words, music becomes our common tongue," said Carol Webber, Eastman professor of voice who also is involved in the planning of the concert. "Mozart’s Requiem eloquently expresses our fear, our sorrow, and our loss."
"Like everyone in Rochester and around our country, the entire Eastman community has been incredibly saddened and overwhelmed by this tragedy," said Director James Undercofler. "Yet music moves and brings people together in profound ways. Through the performance of this masterpiece, we are trying to make a difference and show our support."