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Avner Dorman, Stockton Symphony Conductor in Residence

A Variety of Community Activities Planned, Culminating in Nine Premiere Performances

The Stockton Symphony has commissioned a major new 30-minute narrated symphonic work from Israeli composer Avner Dorman. In discussions with Mr. Dorman, the Symphony’s Music Director and Executive Director stressed that they wanted the new work to “speak” to the Stockton community’s current challenges and difficulties. 

Mr. Dorman based his new work on the Israeli children’s story by Ephraim Sidon, Uzu and Muzu from Kakamaruzu, which tells of two brothers who are very close until they quarrel and build a wall down the middle of their home. In the musical work, two percussionists on opposite sides of the stage will represent the warring brothers. It takes four generations before the wall of prejudice is finally demolished.  

Stockton has walls of its own that need to be torn down. Stockton has a high crime rate with daily incidents of gang activity, high unemployment, a high foreclosure rate, and a low literacy level.   

The Symphony is using the power of Dorman’s music and the residency activities leading up to the concert to promote community dialogue around an important community issue, help bring together the diverse citizens of our “segregated” city, and encourage literacy. These goals are being pursued through a variety of projects for both youth and adults.

Following are some of the community activities scheduled. Click the link at the left of each activity for more information.

WRITING CONTEST

  Local students are encouraged to write essays about conflict resolution / bullying prevention - in school, with family, or in a neighborhood. Three winners will be chosen from each of three categories: grades 3-6, grades 7-9, and grades 10-12. Deadline is February 11, 2012. Winning entries will be published in The Record newspaper in February and other entries will be placed online. Winners will read their entries from the stage at an event at Delta College on March 9, 2012.

 

ART EXHIBIT

  The Haggin Museum is inviting teachers who participate in the McKee Student Art Exhibit, the longest-running student art competition in the United States, to help their students create artwork based on the themes of conflict and resolution: communication, compromise, empathy, and respect. Special prizes will be awarded to upper and lower division students whose work exemplifies an artistic interpretation of this very current human reality. Artwork displayed February 2 through April 1, 2012.

 

LIBRARY DISPLAYS AND STORY HOURS

  Libraries throughout our local community will display a variety of books about music and musical instruments as well as books about conflict and resolution. They are welcoming volunteers to read the translated version of Uzu and Muzu during the regular children's story hours.