HARLEM VOICES
California Humanities recently announced the June 2024 Humanities For All Project Grant awards. The Middletown Art Center has been awarded $25,000 for its project entitled “Harlem Voices.”
Humanities For All Project Grant is a competitive grant program of California Humanities which supports locally-developed projects that respond to the needs, interests and concerns of Californians, provide accessible learning experiences for the public, and promote understanding among our state’s diverse population.
The Harlem Voices project, spearheaded by Rev. Clovice Lewis, is an innovative initiative that blends musical performance and historical dialogue to address persistent racial justice issues. Lewis, a distinguished cellist, composer, conductor, and Unitarian Universalist has a rich background in music and activism. His work is deeply influenced by his commitment to social justice, racial equality, and inclusive spirituality. The project will feature a series of five staged concert performances, derived from Lewis' musicals “Harlem Voices” and “Harlem Voices: Revisited”, focusing on selected characters' stories. Lewis, portraying Maurice, the musical director of the segregated Black Jay Club speakeasy, will provide historical context throughout the performances. At the conclusion of each show, he will engage the audience in discussions about the historical events highlighted in the musical and their relevance to ongoing racial justice challenges today.
Commenting on the award, Lewis wrote, "Much of what I do is created in a kind of vacuum. As a 'classical' composer, my music is not heard by many people because I mainly compose for symphony orchestras, which can take years to bring to life. Musicals are even more collaborative. In the case of these two musicals, I wrote the plays, lyrics, and composed and orchestrated the music, then published them as books. The danger is they might never be performed. So I am shocked and delighted that California Humanities saw the imperative for many people to experience these works. For that, I am truly honored. I will not squander this rare opportunity in my life as an artist."
Lewis's activism, along with the efforts of the Community Call to Action—a grassroots movement in Lake County formed in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor—led to the passing of a county proclamation and the establishment of the Lake County Community Visioning Forum Planning Committee. This committee was tasked with assessing the landscape of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in Lake County and providing recommendations to the county and its cities.
This project aims to spotlight Lake County's often overlooked African American community by showcasing local and regional black vocalists and musicians. The project also invites high school and community college students to participate as chorus members, providing them with a unique and rare professional opportunity locally. To increase access across Lake County, performances will be held at the Tallman Hotel, at Middletown Art Center and at Lake County Arts Council's Soper-Reese Theatre.
“This was an extremely competitive round, with our seven new Project Grant recipients representing only 6% of the applications we received,” said California Humanities’ President and CEO Rick Noguchi. “These projects rose to the top, and collectively represent what the humanities are about in California: providing creative ways to tell stories that haven't been told, contributing to the mosaic that is California’s identity.”
California Humanities promotes the humanities – focused on ideas, conversation and learning – as relevant, meaningful ways to understand the human condition and connect us to each other in order to help strengthen California. California Humanities has provided grants and programs across the state since 1975. To learn more, visit calhum.org, or like and follow on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
Learn more about Harlem Voices, the musical here
Humanities For All Project Grant is a competitive grant program of California Humanities which supports locally-developed projects that respond to the needs, interests and concerns of Californians, provide accessible learning experiences for the public, and promote understanding among our state’s diverse population.
The Harlem Voices project, spearheaded by Rev. Clovice Lewis, is an innovative initiative that blends musical performance and historical dialogue to address persistent racial justice issues. Lewis, a distinguished cellist, composer, conductor, and Unitarian Universalist has a rich background in music and activism. His work is deeply influenced by his commitment to social justice, racial equality, and inclusive spirituality. The project will feature a series of five staged concert performances, derived from Lewis' musicals “Harlem Voices” and “Harlem Voices: Revisited”, focusing on selected characters' stories. Lewis, portraying Maurice, the musical director of the segregated Black Jay Club speakeasy, will provide historical context throughout the performances. At the conclusion of each show, he will engage the audience in discussions about the historical events highlighted in the musical and their relevance to ongoing racial justice challenges today.
Commenting on the award, Lewis wrote, "Much of what I do is created in a kind of vacuum. As a 'classical' composer, my music is not heard by many people because I mainly compose for symphony orchestras, which can take years to bring to life. Musicals are even more collaborative. In the case of these two musicals, I wrote the plays, lyrics, and composed and orchestrated the music, then published them as books. The danger is they might never be performed. So I am shocked and delighted that California Humanities saw the imperative for many people to experience these works. For that, I am truly honored. I will not squander this rare opportunity in my life as an artist."
Lewis's activism, along with the efforts of the Community Call to Action—a grassroots movement in Lake County formed in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor—led to the passing of a county proclamation and the establishment of the Lake County Community Visioning Forum Planning Committee. This committee was tasked with assessing the landscape of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in Lake County and providing recommendations to the county and its cities.
This project aims to spotlight Lake County's often overlooked African American community by showcasing local and regional black vocalists and musicians. The project also invites high school and community college students to participate as chorus members, providing them with a unique and rare professional opportunity locally. To increase access across Lake County, performances will be held at the Tallman Hotel, at Middletown Art Center and at Lake County Arts Council's Soper-Reese Theatre.
“This was an extremely competitive round, with our seven new Project Grant recipients representing only 6% of the applications we received,” said California Humanities’ President and CEO Rick Noguchi. “These projects rose to the top, and collectively represent what the humanities are about in California: providing creative ways to tell stories that haven't been told, contributing to the mosaic that is California’s identity.”
California Humanities promotes the humanities – focused on ideas, conversation and learning – as relevant, meaningful ways to understand the human condition and connect us to each other in order to help strengthen California. California Humanities has provided grants and programs across the state since 1975. To learn more, visit calhum.org, or like and follow on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
Learn more about Harlem Voices, the musical here
This project was made possible with support from California Humanities a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Visit www.calhum.org.
