Looking at the Stars Launches in the U.S.A.
We are very excited to announce our FIRST EVENT SERIES in the U.S.A.
These five events in two States mark the culmination of our focused efforts to introduce American facilities to the important work that Looking at the Stars has done in Canada and Europe, restoring dignity and hope to those who may have lost these important attributes. We are optimistic that there will be many opportunities ahead to present to other American facilities.
MASSACHUSETTS
TONY YANG, piano
“A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY THROUGH LOVE, LONELINESS, DARKNESS AND LIGHT”
Works by FRANZ LISZT
MCI – Norfolk (medium security male facility)
September 26, 2024
2 Clark St. , Norfolk, MA. 02056
MCI – Framingham (women’s facility)
September 27, 2024
99 Loring Drive, Framingham, MA
MINNESOTA
JONATHAN CROW, violin – JOSEPH JOHNSON, cello – WALTER DELAHUNT, piano
“OVER THE RAINBOW”
Works by Heifetz/Gershwin, Bach, Massenet, Arlen, Albeniz, Handel-Halvorsen, Brahms
Minnesota_Correctional_Facility–Stillwater
MCF – STILLWATER (close custody male facility)
October 16, 2024 at 12:30 – 2:00 pm
970 Pickett St, Bayport, MN
MCF – Moose Lake (medium custody male facility)
October 17, 2024 at 1:15 – 2:45 pm
7600 525th Street, Rush City, MN
MCF – SHAKOPEE (women’s facility)
October 18, 2024 at 12:30 – 2:00 pm
1010 West Sixth Avenue, Shakopee, MN
VOCALISTS’ DEBUT – A SUCCESS
For the first time in our history, our events featured vocalists. The experiment in three Lithuanian prisons (Spring 2024 Series on May 21-24) exceeded expectations – the inspirational recitals of German soprano Elena Sverdiolaite and Lithuanian tenor Rafailas Karpis (assisted by pianists Gustas Raudonius and Darius Mazintas respectively) culminated in standing ovations, inmates’ singing, and their reaffirming testimonials following the opening concerts in two prisons in Pravienškės.
Our Artist in residence, S. Gordon Harwood created abstract paintings during each of the events and gifted them to our audiences.
Canadian Ambassador to Lithuania Hon. Jeanette Sautner has honoured our Program by paying a historic visit and delivering opening remarks during our “fully packed” event at the Panevežys Women’s prison.
Mindaugas Kairys, a newly appointed Head of Lithuania’s Correctional Services, delivered powerful and unexpectedly emotional closing remarks, emphasizing the positive impact of our gift on the faith of the inmate population.
Our fourth and last performance in Kaunas prison featured our program debutants from Austria Ieva Pranskute, violin and Mislav Brajković, cello. Their highly expressive and professional performance and engaging interaction with the audience inspired intense applause and an invitation to return.
MAY 21 – PRAVIENISKES 1st PRISON
MAY 21 – PRAVIENISKES 2nd PRISON
May 23 – PANEVEZYS
MAY 24 – KAUNAS
[VIDEO] Schubert in Spring 2024 Fundraiser
On April 12, 2024, we have successfully implemented our traditional, yet very unique fundraiser, featuring a keynote address by Steven Lamberti, Professor of Psychiatry, University of Rochester, and a string quintet comprised of leading musicians from The Toronto Symphony Orchestra and distinguished Ukrainian pianist, Anna Sagalova. Here’s a 10-minute video summary for your review.
2024 SPRING SERIES IN LITHUANIA
In May 2024, we will continue our program in the European Union with the gift of four classical music concerts to Lithuanian correctional institutions.
The series, delivered by an international team of performers – newcomers from Austria, Germany and Lithuania – will be unique. This is the first time since our inception in 2015, that we will include vocalists in the program – a soprano and a tenor.
S. Gordon Harwood, our Artist in Residence, will create paintings during each of the performances and will gift them to inmates as part of a Looking at the Stars tradition which originated with our Canadian concerts.
This will bring our Lithuanian prisons program count to 35 musical gifts in total.
Click the image below to view the upcoming musical programme.
New Canadian Concert Series June 10 – 12, 2023
We are continuing our work with Ukrainian refugees in Eastern Canada. On June 10 and 11 Peter Lambert will be moderating two concerts in Halifax and Moncton respectively (pianists Walter Delahunt and Anna Sagalova will present the program of western and Ukrainian composers).
The third concert of the series will take place at Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto on June 12, 2023.
https://holyblossom.org/event/mondays-in-the-mishkan-2/
The Great Dmitry Sitkovetsky joins our Lithuania Fall Series
We are delighted to announce that worldwide renowned “renaissance man and a magnetic personality,” violinist, conductor, and educator Dmitry Sitkovetsky is joining our Lithuanian Fall series together with our old friend and featured artist, internationally acclaimed pianist, Lukas Geniušas. They will present a Program at the women’s prison in the Lithuanian city of Panevezys.
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