2025 Multicultural Music Encounters
The 2025 MME Retrospective presented the following pieces:
Retire 21 is a Tribute to Roberto Clemente, one of the greatest baseball players in American History and a humanist who lost his life in an airplane crash while bringing support to survivors in the Nicaragua earthquake of 1973.
This musical composition was commissioned by MMG in 2014 and represents the civic movement that intends to separate number 21 exclusively for Roberto Clemente, similar to Jackie Robinson’s number 64 which is a number no one can use in the Major League Baseball.
Journey of the Naturals, was composed by saxophone virtuoso and NEA Jazz Master: Mr. Donald Harrison. This work was commissioned by the MMG in 2016 and presents a tribute to the victims of hurricane Katrina and the major mass displacement of African- American citizens in the 21st century.
This work will be conducted by Ms. Christina Morris, a young talented musician and excellent conductor in orchestral music. This is Ms. Morris 2nd appearance with the Multicultural Music Orchestra who is a great interpreter of the Afro-American classical repertoire.
First: Darfur Chronicles, composed by educator, reedman and cultural conscious music writer: Mr. Benny Russell. This work depicts the continuous violence in Sudan for the past 25 years and one of the regions that suffers one of the most violent conditions in the world.
Second: 50 Lashes-50 Bullets, composed by Mr. Bruce Purse, a trumpet player with Lester Bowie, Olu Dara, and Melba Moore among others a musical work that pays tribute to Amadou Diallo, an unarmed African immigrant killed by the NYC police in 2008 as a mistaken identity case in a 41-bullet shooting.
The two works above will be directed by our main conductor, Mr. Ali Bello. A talented musician and product of El Sistema in Venezuela, who has proven to be one of the most solicited violin performers in major cities of the US and Latin America. This is Ali’s 20th season with the Multicultural Music Orchestra as a member of the string section, concert master, and conductor.
Y Tus Papeles – “And Your Papers” written by Luis Columna as part of the Borders’ Series focusing on the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
Luis Columna unfortunately passed away in February 2024. Luis was part of the Multicultural Music Group since 1998, as composer, teacher, musician, and conductor of the MMG Orchestra. We would like to dedicate this piece to Luis Columna’s family and friends who are with us in the audience.
Amazing Grace performed by the MMG Youth Orchestra