Experience artistic innovation with the Music Inclusion Ensemble
Experience classical music reinvented when the Music Inclusion Ensemble, featuring Gaelynn Lea, Adrian Anantawan, and Molly Joyce, takes the stage Monday, Oct. 20, at 7:30 p.m. in the Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre at the Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech. Admssions is $5.
On stage
Violinist, vocalist, and disability-rights advocate Lea joins the Music Inclusion Ensemble, along with founder and co-director Anantawan and composer Joyce, for the concert.
This will be a night of artistic innovation as the musicians reinvent the ordinary. The display of musical talent and creativity through instrument adaptation wiil make this performance unique.
Why it matters
Music Inclusion Ensemble spotlights the talents and contributions of disabled artists who are reimagining classical music. Their authentic representation of disability showcases the diversity of human experience and musical expression. By bringing attention to available alternatives and possibilities for musicians, the ensemble fosters a more inclusive music industry and community.
The artists behind the music
- Lea, winner of NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest, is known for her haunting compositions and for her passion for disability education and awareness-building. She has appeared on "PBS NewsHour," on "The Moth Radio Hour," and in two TEDx Talks. In recent years, Lea composed and recorded the original score for “Macbeth on Broadway” and co-wrote and performed in the musical “Invisible Fences.”
- Anantawan, founder of the Music Inclusion Program, is a classical violinist, educator, and disability advocate and has performed at the White House, the United Nations, and the Opening Ceremonies of the Athens and Vancouver Olympic Games. Among his accomplishments and honors, Anantawan has been named a Kennedy Center Next50 and received the Diamond Jubilee Medal from Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth II.
- Joyce, composer and performer, explores disability as a creative source. Her music has been presented and commissioned by leading institutions, such as Carnegie Hall, and her orchestral and ensemble works have been performed by symphony orchestras around the U.S. Joyce’s most recent album, “State Change,” was long-listed in NPR’s Best New Albums.
Tickets and other details
Tickets are $5 for the general public and may be purchased through the Center for the Arts ticket office in person, online, or by calling 540-231-5300. All seating is general admission.
All university community members and visitors will need to display a parking permit, use the ParkMobile app, pay the fee for a daily parking pass, or pay using an hourly meter to park on the Blacksburg campus unless otherwise noted by signage. You can find additional parking information online.
If you are an individual with a disability and/or desire an accommodation, please contact Susan Sanders at susansan@vt.edu at least 10 days prior to the event.
Written by Ashley Falat, a senior communication major
