A performance-based social justice program performing at Bradley University will feature an original composition by a Bradley music professor.
"Songs of Hope: Unveiling Darkness" is a music and visual arts program that focuses on stories of human trafficking, refugees, marginalized youth, and undocumented immigrants.
Dr. Lynnsey Lambrecht is an assistant professor of music theory and composition at Bradley. She was commissioned by program co-director Dr. Jason Terry and performer Dr. Angela Yoon to compose a piece for the performance about human trafficking.
“When I first got on board with this project, I thought, Oh, this isn't a topic that I get exposed to very much, or that I even think about here in Peoria,” Lambrecht said, “And as I did research, and as I was reading statistics on human trafficking, it is a issue that plagues every community.”
Program co-director Dr. Jason Terry, a pianist performing in the program, said the idea for the Songs of Hope program originated at Bradley University.
“It came from the September 2017 Founders Day celebration at the university. And a lot of times, at those types of events where we're maybe looking back on someone that has a legacy at the university or other things that might be going on at an institution,” Terry said, “they're often just kind of another box to check off.”
However, Terry said at this particular Founders Day celebration, a particular alum’s story sparked his interest.
“Deedee Lhamon from the Covering House in St. Louis, a Bradley alumna, hearing her story about what she's been doing, and the good work that her and her ministry and her institution do is really what caused me to question what can we do as artists to help people beyond just creating beautiful art?” he said.
"Songs of Hope: Unveiling Darkness" will be performing at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27 at the Dingledine Music Center at Bradley University. For more information on the program, visit songs-of-hope.org
