Plenary: The Medicine of Music

"Music speaks where words fail." Vijay Gupta believes that making music restores us back into relationship with the world, and with ourselves. In this talk, Gupta draws from his work as director of Street Symphony—an engagement initiative bringing performance and dialogue to homeless and incarcerated people in Los Angeles County—to illustrate how music can give voice to marginalized and neglected communities.

This participatory session will highlight Street Symphony's work in the Skid Row neighborhood of Los Angeles with singers from the Urban Voices Project, a Skid-Row based community choir, as well as the Street Symphony Chamber Singers, musicians of the esteemed Los Angeles Master Chorale. Gupta will lead participants and attendees in a singalong demonstration of "Take What You Need," a new, interactive choral work commissioned from Street Symphony's composer-in-residence, Reena Esmail. Stay tuned to the end for an exciting and very special announcement!