The Series
Silent Voices is a multimedia, multi-composer, and multi-year series of concert works with spoken word conceived, produced and performed by Brooklyn Youth Chorus. Silent Voicesamplifies the voices of those silenced or marginalized in our communities and harnesses the power of young people to be instruments of change. The Chorus has commissioned a dynamic group of innovative artists to interpret rich personal stories and historical narratives exploring contemporary themes of identity, orientation, status, boundaries, and belonging.
This Show
Silent Voices: Lovestate, the third installment in the Silent Voices series, builds on the success of its earlier premieres at BAM’s Howard Gilman Opera House, National Sawdust, and Prototype Festival, in a program including stand-out works from the earlier series and new premieres. In Lovestate, a dynamic roster of composers and artists collaborate with the choristers in confronting the challenges of division and categorization, racism, sexism, immigration, threats to our environment and our understanding of truth, as we seek to affirm our vision of a more inclusive and compassionate future—a world we can all look forward to. Unifying this musically and topically broad work is the distinctively versatile and beautiful sound of the rigorously-trained singers—a chorus of culturally and socioeconomically diverse New York City young people, ages 12–18. Commissioned composers for Lovestate include: Pulitzer Prize winners David Lang and Caroline Shaw, Nico Muhly, Shara Nova, Paola Prestini, Toshi Reagon, Angelica Negron, Bora Yoon, and others.
Produced and Performed by Brooklyn Youth Chorus
Conceived and Conducted by Dianne Berkun Menaker
Chorus costumes provided by rag & bone