Kimberly and Brian Chin write:
Wallingford neighbors! We wanted to share with you the creation of a new nonprofit organization, The Universal Language 21st Century Music Project.
Our mission is to impact 21st-century music and to engage audiences with the artistic process. We believe that art music in the 21st century will be increasingly collaborative in design, performed in smaller intimate settings, and substantially less genre specific. We want to create a mash-up with the spontaneity and collaborative nature of progressive jazz and the intentionality and intellect of through-composed “classical” music. Add the energy and immediate connection of a progressive independent pop band and you have a new formula for music.
The inception of this project began with a joint commission in 2004 and has progressed to over thirty commissions and premieres, tours of Europe, Asia, and New York and performances at conferences in Australia and New York. We have been the recipient of individual grants, produced two recordings of selected commissioned works, and received a recent review in Gramophone magazine.
Universal Language will manifest as a Seattle-based performing arts organization with an annual concert series. The goal of the project is to generate artisan music for the 21st century through innovative and entertaining programming that can simultaneously push boundaries and dialogue with a mainstream public. We will commission composers and musicians to create new music for a three concert inaugural season.
The Universal Language: 21st Century Music Project was conceived on the premise that Seattle will continue to grow as a world center for art, culture, and education. We believe that Seattle will be a positive force in art in the coming decades and Universal Language is a visionary organization providing the vehicle and framework to bring it all together.
Our goal is to raise $10,000 for our inaugural season. As a new organization we have zero overhead and 100% of these funds will go directly to the creation and performance of new music. Funds will pay the composers and musicians for our inaugural season as well as venue fees. For more information on our organization, the concert lineup and how to support us please visit the Universal Language Project web site.
So cool! Thanks for sharing about our awesome neighbors!