Cellist Amanda Gookin Presents Forward Music Project At National Sawdust

On March 1, Amanda Gookin presents her ForwardMusic Project at National Sawdust in Brooklyn, kicking off the venue's Spring Revolution festival. The NYC-based cellist is co-founder of the innovative PUBLIQuartet.

(quartet-in-residence at the Metropolitan Museum of Art), an educator, and activist. Her Forward MusicProject encourages social change and empowerment for women and girls through the commissioning of new works for solo cello. National Sawdust's Spring Revolution festival, running throughout March, focuses on female empowerment and cultural discourse. Following the performance, there will be a Town Hall discussion guided by National Sawdust Creative/Executive Director Paola Prestini, UN Women Humanitarian Policy Specialist

Elizabeth Cafferty, and Amanda Gookin. Discussion will be opened to the audience with the intention of sparking action within the community, and will be streamed on Facebook Live.

This multi-media concert features seven world premieres for solo cello + electronics with projection design by S Katy Tucker. Works will be premiered by composers Angélica Negrón, Leila Adu, Jessica Meyer, AllisonLoggins-Hull, Morgan Krauss, Nathalie Joachim, and Amanda Feery. This diverse group of female composers has written music directly related, or in response to, the project's theme of social justice for women. The composers tackle issues ranging from abortion access in Ireland, to selling girls into marriage, to personal memories and experience. In following months, Amanda and the composers will run educational workshops for young women, and a recording of the project is scheduled for spring 2017. 100% of Forward Music Project proceeds will be donated to benefit organizations doing inspiring work for women and girls locally and abroad.

AMANDA GOOKIN / FORWARD MUSIC PROJECT
New works from Angélica Negrón, Leila Adu, Jessica Meyer, Allison Loggins-Hull,Morgan Krauss, Nathalie Joachim, and Amanda Feery

Wednesday, March 1, 7PMNational Sawdust80 N 6th St, Brooklyn, NYTickets: $29/34646-779-8455 / www.nationalsawdust.org

FORWARD MUSIC PROJECT
Commissioning new works for solo cello by today's most forward-thinking composers that encourage social change and empowerment for women and girls.

"The Forward Music Project is driven by socialjustice for women. We musicians, now more thanever, have an incredible ability to effect changein our communities. In 2015, I commissionedseven composers to write pieces based ontheir personal story or a particular issue thataffects women and girls. The compositions arestylistically contrasting and represent the vastdefinition of what it means to be a woman,ranging from issues of the LGBTQ+ communityand reproductive rights to sexual violence andempowerment. A visceral experience, the composers require that

I embody the spirit of their message physically, mentally, and emotionally. In performance I sing, chant, fightand breathe life into these works." -Amanda Gookin

In March 2016, while artist-in-residence at Mount Tremper Arts in the Catskills, Amanda Gookin beganwork on the new compositions comprising the Forward Music Project. The concert on March 1 at NationalSawdust marks the world premiere of all seven works. These commissions serve as a catalyst for educationand outreach activities. Amanda and the composers will run educational workshops for young women,encouraging them to speak up and speak out through the original creation of poetry, music, theater, anddance. A recording of the project is scheduled for spring 2017.

100% of Future Music Project proceeds will be donated to benefit organizations doing inspiring work forwomen and girls locally and abroad, among them Planned Parenthood and Art & Abolition.

GOALS:
+ To continue to raise awareness of women's issues.+ To contribute to the evolving future of new music.+ To gain support for organizations focusing on women's rights.+ To support the work of living composers of all backgrounds.+ To discover better ways to connect a community through art.+ To empower young women and provide them a platform of strength and courage to speak up and speak out.+ To open a dialogue and encourage change in the arts community in New York and throughout the country.

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