While we were at the Grantmakers session, Musicians’ Advisory Group member Grace Chandarlapaty attended the Soundpainting workshop given by Con Edison Composer in Residence Evan Mazunik.  Grace sent along this write-up.

“Recently, I was witness to a wonderful musical event at the Florence E. Smith Community Center in Corona, Queens.  Evan Mazunik, recipient of the 2010 Con Edison Musicians’ Residency: Composition Program, culminated his residency by leading a delightful and collaborative Soundpainting workshop for a cheerful audience of 20 seniors.“

By weaving together performances of his piano compositions (conceived and written during his 3-month residency) with interactive Soundpainting demonstrations, Mr. Mazunik guided us along 45-minutes of thoughtful and engaging musical conversation. He began by asking us to pause and listen to the sounds surrounding us.  He described this very process as the inspiration for “Invocations,” a beautifully rhapsodic piano solo describing sounds heard while he would walk from the nearby 7 train to the community center. Following this introduction, we were made into an instant human orchestra– by using a combination of gestures and breath to create sounds for air, rain, hail and wind. While tentative at first, the audience quickly shed any inhibition and created beautiful environmental sounds through a quick strike of fingers on the palm, whistling and stomping feet.”

“Mr. Mazunik then played a work-in-progress titled “Wax and Wane.” Inspired by the unique tunings of his residency piano that often produced unexpected and beautiful overtones; this meditative and hypnotic piece drew enthusiastic responses of “awesome”, “beautiful harmony” and “bravo” from the audience. The piece concluding the workshop was “On the Table,” a haunting and stark piano solo portraying the Alaskan landscape.”

Find out more about Evan and his music here.  And a big thank-you to our partners at the NYC Department for the Aging, for their assistance with this program.