The Houston Grand Opera's HGOco Presents Veterans Songbook Project

Houston Grand Opera's HGOco, the company's community collaboration and education initiative, announced plans to produce a multiyear Veterans Songbook project to honor United States servicemen and servicewomen. Houston's veteran community is on track to become the largest in the United States. This compelling project will feature songs drawn directly from the stories of Houston-based veterans and their loved ones, with themes centered on conflict and courage as well as strength and sacrifice.

The Veterans Songbook project was launched October 9, 2014, with a six-week workshop in partnership with U.S. VETS. It will continue over the Veterans Day holiday with three workshops in connection with Carpetbag Theatre's production of Speed Killed My Cousin, November 10-15presented by Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts (MECA). Veterans of all ages, genders, and branches of the service are invited to share their stories in the MECA workshops. To participate, please contact Estevan Azcona, MECA Music Director, at 713-802-9370.

"The core definition of opera is telling stories with words and music," notes Sandra Bernhard, director of HGOco. "We hope the stories of our unsung heroes that come to light in these workshops will become songs that can help others to connect more deeply with Houston's veteran community."

Adds HGO Artistic and Music Director Patrick Summers, "Houston Grand Opera aspires to give voice to ideas that mirror our city in this time and place. There are no fellow citizens more worthy of artistic tribute and exploration than Houston's veterans."

HGOco will publicly present a selection of the songs that result from the fall 2014 workshops on January 25, 2015, in the Wortham Theater Center's Grand Foyer prior to a matinee performance of Madame Butterfly, an opera that includes American servicemen in the story line. Veterans and non-veterans are invited to attend the event to learn more about HGOco's Veteran Songbook project. Houston Grand Opera is proud to offer a limited number of $15 NEXUS tickets for the January 25, 2015, performance of Madame Butterfly to active-duty and former American service members. Active-duty service members and veterans may purchase up to two tickets per person at the NEXUS rate by calling HGO Customer Care at 713-228-OPERA (6737) or 1-800-626-7372 (Mon-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.) and referencing promo code SONGBOOK.

Throughout this project, HGOco will emphasize significant-although sometimes silent-struggles many veterans face once they return home from war, as well as their journeys toward healing. HGOco is currently seeking additional personal accounts that may help highlight veterans, their sacrifices, and their celebrations. To share your story as a veteran or a veteran's loved one, or if you are interested in participating in future workshops, please contact HGOco Programs Director Brittany Duncan at sohstories@HGO.org or call 713-546-0211.

Now in its eighth year, HGOco has commissioned 16 new works and conducted innovative community projects reaching more than one million people in the greater Houston metropolitan area. HGOco creates opportunities for Houstonians of all ages and backgrounds to observe, participate in, and create art. Through projects like Veterans Songbook, HGOco endeavors to make opera relevant to changing audiences by connecting HGO with the diverse Houston community through collaboration.

The Veterans Songbook project is part of the next chapter of HGOco's award-winning Song of Houston initiative, the ongoing program that creates new works based on stories that define the unique character of Houston. Past Song of Houston projects include The Refuge, Cruzar la Cara de la Luna/To Cross the Face of the Moon, Pieces of 9/11-Memories from Houston, Home and Place, and eight chamber operas that comprised the East + West series. In 2009 the program received the Leading Lights Diversity Award in Arts and Culture from the National MultiCultural Institute (NCMI).

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