Celebrating the Music of Black American Composers

THE STORY

Despite mutually busy domestic and international performance schedules, composer/pianist Anthony Green and violist Ashleigh Gordon longed for an opportunity to continue their collaboration. In early 2013 when their paths crossed in Boston, they jumped on the rare chance to share the stage together once more. Their chance reunion led to conversation and the discovery that they both felt moved to create something larger than themselves. The seed for Castle of our Skins was planted and the idea to create a concert series devoted to the works of Black American composers was born. 

Castle of our Skins takes its name from the famed black female poet Nikki Giovanni’s Poem for Nina. The poem beautifully captures the sense of adoration and respect for oneself and community that Castle of our Skins seeks to advocate. Recognizing that we are part of a collective of different “skins” - each housing a unique mind, body and soul - Castle of our Skins proudly celebrates these diversities through the classical and contemporary music of black composers.

THE MISSION

Through the realm of classical and contemporary music, Castle of our Skins (COOS) invites exploration and understanding into the rich heritage and modern culture of Black America. Pairing music with dialogue, youth education projects and collaborations, Castle of our Skins seeks to build greater consciousness and social acceptance concerning the multi-dimensional identity of today's black culture.

Future ambitions for this series involve hosting pre-concert conversations, touring both nationally and abroad, producing our first CD in honor of the late Ed Bland, and continued artistic collaborations with organizations focusing on Black American History. For more information, please visit our website.

In honor of National Black History Month, COOS will present 4 educational workshops geared towards elementary-aged children featuring the newly composed work A Little History. Created by Composer-in-Residence Anthony Green for solo narrating violist Ashleigh Gordon, this fun and interactive piece is comprised of 9 short vignettes filled with music, original poetry and built-in audience interaction. Through music, narration, and audience participation, each vignette showcases the historical importance of 9 key figures in Black history: 

• Phillis Wheatley (poet)

• Garrett Morgan (inventor)

• Madame CJ Walker (millionaire)

• George Washington Carver (farmer)

• Margaret Bonds (composer)

• Ed Bland (composer)

• Angela Davis (activist)

• Bayard Rustin (civil rights leader)

• Barack Obama (president)

COOS' inaugural concert will take place Friday, May 23rd at Roxbury Community College in the Boston. MA area. Pairing music with text, this concert explores how love can influence our sense of self, humanity, heritage, and future. Chamber works by Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, Adolphus Hailstork and H.T. Burleigh intertwine with readings of poems by Nikki Giovanni, Maya Angelou and Gwendolyn Bennet as well as speeches from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and President Barack Obama. Six musicians and two narrators will help reinterpret the theme of love through spoken word and music.

WHERE YOUR DOLLARS WILL GO

• $275 will cover the rental cost of our first venue
• $350 will allow us to capture the event with photos and an audio recording
• $1,000 will cover the commissioning cost of A Little History
• $1,800 will allow us to pay all of the amazing performers in our inaugural concert! 
• Basic foundation start-up and overhead costs including printing, advertising, and internet-related fees.