The Spoleto Festival in Charleston is spotlighting local voices through its community initiative, “Tell Your Story.” This program connects talented musicians with residents to preserve and share their untold narratives through art, enhancing cultural understanding and expression.
“Tell Your Story” Project Overview
Launched in 2022, “Tell Your Story” integrates artists and Charleston residents in a collaborative effort to capture oral histories and translate them into music compositions. The initiative is designed to honor community narratives while providing a platform for creative collaboration.
Directed by pianist Renate Rohlfing and contemporary soloist Edward Kass, the program consists of hour-long sessions where narratives are shared, followed by 10-minute musical performances inspired by those stories. In this year’s edition, fellows include musicians Julia Connor, Micah Gleason, Jay Julio, and Ben Ross.
The fellows are selected based on their applications and are typically past members of the Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra and Chorus. They undergo training in ethical interviewing techniques, as well as courses in design and audio engineering to prepare them for their roles in the project.
After a preparatory period, the fellows spend a week in Charleston engaging with community narrators, recording stories, and crafting their musical pieces. This year, Julia Connor partnered with narrators Robyn Gearhart and Dana Wine Johnson, who shared their experiences as third-generation Holocaust survivors and the impact of intergenerational trauma.
Robyn Gearhart commented on the significance of sharing their family’s stories, emphasizing the importance of maintaining their Jewish heritage and history across generations. Connor, inspired by these narratives, crafted a four-movement composition as a tribute to their experiences.
The program also collaborates with local organizations such as the Charleston Jewish Federation, We Are Family, and Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach, ensuring a diverse representation of voices from the community.
All four fellows will present their projects during the free community program at 6 p.m. on May 26 at the Simons Center Recital Hall at the College of Charleston. Featured narrators will include Jermaine Husser from Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach and those submitted by the Charleston Jewish Federation.
For additional information or to attend the event, interested individuals can visit the festival’s official website.
Why It Matters
The “Tell Your Story” initiative not only fosters artistic collaboration but also enriches the Charleston community by preserving important cultural histories. By connecting local musicians with residents, it emphasizes the critical role that storytelling and art play in community identity and cohesion.
