The Power of Residency
A residency is more than a community project—it's a deep, extended period with a community partner to build something lasting for them, and amazing for you. It usually involves deep listening and always a thoughtful touch as to what's most transformative for the audiences it's intended to serve.
Did you know that each of our featured guest artists over the season spends time with us in residency in the community? This makes their final concert performance even more special, knowing that part of what they bring to the stage has already been embedded in or built in partnership with various agencies in our community.
Our first guest artist, soprano Karen Slack, worked with our Fellows and high school art students on themes from the music of Florence Price, the groundbreaking African-American composer. The Fellows workshopped with the students for a month, exploring how music and art often intersect and using Slack’s GRAMMY-winning album of Price’s unpublished songs as inspiration.
“Slack continues to shape the future of vocal music with projects that illuminate overlooked histories and celebrate resilience, identity, and artistic expression.”
At the end of the residency, Karen visited and performed for students in what was truly a life-changing experience for those young minds, before performing with Iris for you on the GPAC stage.
And we’re just getting started.
Our other guest artists this year, selected for their extraordinary commitment to social issues and giving back, will be in residency with our musicians at some of our newest partners, focusing on homelessness with Hospitality Hub and reducing gun violence with Memphis Allies. Keep watching for more updates on these incredible projects that you make possible.
