Memorylines

2007

Commissioned by the Santa Fe Opera

Created and directed by Molly Sturges and Chris Jonas as musical director, this project brought together 25 community participants, ages 8 to 87, across economic, generational and cultural lines into a four-month creative process which fostered community dialogue, empowerment and empathy. The project illuminated underrepresented expressions and stories about immigration, self- identity, culture, home and community. The performance, developed with 8 professional artists and accompanied by a 12 piece orchestra, integrated elements of contemporary video, set design, acoustic ecology, storytelling, choreography and movement, into a rich musical tapestry. The opera premiered in May 2007 at The Lensic Performing Arts Center in Santa Fe.