Internationally renowned drummer, percussionist and composer George Lernis will offer a series of interactive concerts and workshops to immigrant students and creatives in Massachusetts and in other parts of the US. The concerts will raise awareness about certain musical traditions originating from the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions and their potential evolution when combined respectfully with other other musical traditions, like jazz, originating in the US. The workshops will be designed to support and empower immigrants to be authentic in their own journey of identity and expression.
The goal of this creative initiative Lernis will undertake along with Ose Schwab is to replace stereotypes of immigrants with a more accurate perspective that immigrants themselves can design as they create and showcase culturally resonant art, design, media, music, theater, film, business, etc. The first concert and workshop will take place June 18 and 23rd respectively.
As an immigrant himself, also a victim of stereotypes, Lernis believes the authentic expression of one’s cultural and ethnic identity can be an antidote to the incomplete and often inaccurate narratives against immigrants and immigration in the US. Lernis believes that in a country like the US, the potential to build cohesion through different cultural traditions, backgrounds, race, religion, and philosophies is unlike any other country.
Such variety, however, also poses a challenge – especially when desparaging or simplistic profiles of various ethnicities or races and their traditions are propagated through media and entertainment sources. The answer, according to Lernis, can be to continue to do what he is already doing and share that with others:
Interactive and multimedia concerts and talkbacks held in communities and at universities or conservatories to expose audiences to a combination of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and jazz musical traditions composed by George Lernis.
The concerts will start with a short immigrant story or sharing about immigrant research. Lernis’ music will be performed with personal interjections.
During the music, videos of various profiles of people or other complementary visuals will be projected onto a wall.
Following the music, the audience will be invited to ask questions about the music, process of composing the music, or the experience of finding an authentic voice as a composer.
Direct empowerment of immigrants through a series of workshops that encourage student and adult immigrants to express cultural and ethnic heritage more freely. Lernis will use his own example as a bi-musical immigrant and artist – first in Cyprus, then in the US, to share his journey of going beyond the institutional mainstream inputs to creating music, and having the courage to incorporate the musical traditions he grew up with and loves into his own jazz compositions.
The first workshop will be held June 23, 2022 5pm on Zoom.
Forming a supportive community to inspire and help immigrants find and express their authentic voice, especially as shared through the arts, media, or other creative disciplines. As Lernis holds various workshops and finds collaborators who are like-minded, a directory and website of these cultural practitioners will be made available as inspiration, coaching and guidance for other immigrant artists, institutions, or community leaders.
The goal will be to build up this body of cultural practitioners, people who deliberately infuse their origins in how they live, express, and operate in the US – with consideration for what it means to belong in the US – drawing on culture as an enhancement of identity and a potential fusion of worlds and creative traditions, ultimately overshadowing the destructive stereotypes of immigrants.
Internationally-recognized drummer, percussionist and composer George Lernis celebrates the release of his new album “Between Two Worlds” with a concert, brief introductory remarks about what it means to be an immigrant and help immigrants thrive in the US. Concert follows with Q/A.
By sharing his own creative journey as composer, George Lernis will help participants consider the cultural influences that feel resonant and authentic in creative output and sense of identity.
Join a virtual conversation to share your creative ideas and practice your English. Details and date for first session forthcoming. Stay tuned.
We invite local businesses and individuals to offer a monetary contribution to The Between Two Worlds concert. World recognized drummer, percussionist and composer George Lernis will celebrate the release of his new album “Between Two Worlds” with a concert and discussion, with opening remarks by Souad Akib and Abdessamad Zouhir, a husband and wife team deeply committed to the community and to assisting Arabic-speaking immigrants; and a period of questions and discussion.
Contributions go toward ticket subsidies for local middle-high students, college students, and members of various cultural and immigrant groups; workshop and the launch of an English conversation group in Malden.
The Sponorship form is for online payments and is offered on a secure site and platform.