|
Chicago has its Blues festival,
Newport has its Jazz
Festival, and....
Hartford has its
15th Annual
Lift Every Voice and Sing Annual Gospel Festival and Fair
Hartford's Multi-Cultural Positive Performing and Visual Arts Event
For more than half a decade, the
Lift Every Voice and Sing
Committee has labored to create a premiere event designed to further
the goal of community harmony, and positive shared experiences. Over
the past fifteen years, these efforts have resulted in: a free annual
gospel festival, participation in First Night, participation in First
Thursdays, and Old State House Lunch Hour Presentations. We have, and
continue to experience an increasing participation, and more diverse
performing, supporting and attendee populations. This effort has grown
and developed with the collaboration of various social, business,
government, educational, artistic, community-based, and faith-based
organizations, institutions and agencies, of the Greater Hartford
region. We believe that the reduction of ignorance, and the
celebration of differences, must be supported through positive
interaction and shred experience. There is no medium like music to
bring people together for the positive. We seek to contribute to this
achievement through the
LEVAS Festival.
This presentation of a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic experience
feature various choirs, vocalists, instrumental groups, and the
presentation of poetry, movement, as well as visual arts, photography,
painting an pottery. The orientation will be around the health
well-being of the spirit/soul, mind, body. While this thread of
diversity has consistently expanded, we reach even further and explore
the concept of a musical experience in which a confluence of Gospel
and Global music combines the idea of a Gospel Festival and World
Music Festival. The emphasis will be on the spiritual elements of
global cultural musical forms.
The committee continues to seek even greater levels of participation,
both in terms of diversity, the numbers of attendees representative of
the rich socio-cultural landscape of residents of the Greater Hartford
area. We believe that the importance of exposing the citizenry to some
of the benefits of a pluralistic environment is an invaluable asset
for social harmony. Further, we believe that the goal of community
accord cannot be attained unless people are able to periodically come
together in a positive context, designed to foster greater
appreciation, understanding and acceptance among and between
"different others." The opportunity and availability of a social
environment of this quality is our collective responsibility. To this
end we continue to work toward being a small, but significant, part of
this noble direction of human value, we invite your collaboration. The
ability of the Festival committee to enhance the soul and community
life of this city has been the greatest motivation of the LEVAS
Committee.
It has become clear that the focus of music and the arts has become a
powerful catalyst for positive community involvement and productive
social intervention. We have, therefore, committed to integrating the
musical preparation and experience with opportunities for providing
social development and life skills for low-income seniors and youth.
We believe that these are the two populations within our city with the
greatest needs, and in many cases the most limited repertoires for
managing the need for increased personal and interpersonal
competencies and sills. The pace at which social change and demands on
individual social abilities and life skills are required in our fast
moving, and quickly changing environs. The combination of individual
interest and social learning has proven effective, music and the arts
are demonstrated interest of the youth and seniors which we serve.
You are invited to come and share your ministry. For more
information, call (860) 243-8734 or
Contact Us via Email.
|
L
Carolyn Brooks-Burton & Sisters
Second Stage Activities - Festival 2-year-old Gospel Artist Jah 2003