Join us for a spectacular performance featuring the MULTICULTURAL MUSIC GROUP ORCHESTRA and international guest conductors, Ali Bello, Robert Navarro, and Christina Morris, with a Special Performance by MMG Students and Alumni, June 29th at 4:15pm at the Lehman College Lovinger Theater. The Multicultural Music Group Orchestra is a 32-person ensemble of strings, brass, woodwinds, piano, percussionists, and bassists from around the world. We’re pleased to feature a diverse trio of guest conductors, and celebrate the advancement of our Mott Hal Middle School Symphonic Youth Orchestra with a special community segment. This year’s set list will include the following pieces:
2014 - Retire 21 - The Life and Struggle of Roberto Clemente - Written and Conducted by Robert Navarro
2016 – Indigenous Blues / Journey to the Naturals - Written by Donald Harrison and Conducted by Christina Morris
This ambitious commission, led by NEA Jazz Master Donald Harrison, connects the ancestral cultures of the Gulf with the rhythms of Africa and the diaspora’s journey. From the forced labor routes to the trauma of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and the BP oil disaster, Indigenous Blues paints an aural picture of survival, displacement, and cultural endurance. Through this piece, we confront environmental devastation and migration as intertwined global issues, rooted in centuries of resistance.
2017 – Yuba del Sur - Written by Luis Mojica, Conducted by Ali Bello
Yuba del Sur pays homage to the deep ties between Hispanic heritage and Africa, drawing attention to the Sahrawi people of Western Sahara and the communities of Equatorial Guinea. It reflects on forgotten geographies, where colonial borders and global neglect intersect with everyday resilience. This piece reminds us that Africa’s story is woven into the fabric of the Americas, resonating in the beats of drums and the voices of the displaced.
2017 - Chronicles of Darfur - Written by Benny Russell, Conducted by Ali Bello
2018 – Fifty Lashes/Fifty Bullets - Written by Bruce Purse, Conducted by Ali Bello
This powerful work confronts the parallel histories of racial violence, whether inflicted by the lash or the bullet. Drawing connections between the brutalities of slavery and modern-day systemic violence, 50 Lashes/50 Bullets compels us to witness, remember, and reckon with these ongoing legacies. It is both a memorial and a call to action, urging us never to turn away from these truths. We have to mention the Amadou Dialou's murder by the local police.
2019 - In a Brotherly Mood - Written by Luis Mojica, Conducted by Ali Bello
Based on the Caste System in India and the similar social conditions around the world.2020 – Cruzando La Frontera (Borders: Haiti/D.R.) - Written by Luis Columna, Conducted by Ali Bello
Our final piece, Cruzando La Frontera, brings us to the island of Hispaniola, exploring the tense and complex relationship between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. It bears witness to the struggles faced by those who cross borders seeking safety, dignity, and belonging, in a land divided by histories of colonization and racialized politics. This work challenges us to reconsider the meaning of borders—both physical and emotional—and the humanity that transcends them.
La Perla (Notes of Hope: Puerto Rico – featuring MMG Alumni students) - Written by Giovanni Hidalgo, Conducted by Timofei Rosales
Inspired by Giovanni Hidalgo’s composition, La Perla brings to life the vibrant spirit of a community in San Juan often defined by its poverty. Drawing from Dr. Oscar Lewis’s controversial "culture of poverty" theory, this piece instead uplifts the joy, creativity, and cultural pride that thrive in La Perla neighborhood in Old San Juan despite economic hardship. It is a testament to the resilience of Puerto Rican communities, challenging deterministic narratives and celebrating their enduring hope.
Amazing Grace – featuring MMG Alumni students, Elissa Carmona's “Timeless Tunes” Ensemble - Conducted by Timofei Rosales
Each piece is approximately 4 to 6 minutes, which should cover the time from 4:30 to 5:30 on Sunday, June 29th, 2025