At 9:42 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2001, the national operations manager of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration invoked SCATANA — the emergency preparedness plan for
Lectures
Longtime friends Geoffrey C. Ward and Wynton Marsalis joined in conversation reflecting on the events of the week and discussing the significance of jazz to
Mabel Powers was a woman both ahead of and behind her time. A writer, lecturer, feminist and pacifist, Powers was best known as an advocate
Traditionally, cantors were central figures in Jewish synagogues who led Jewish prayers and memorized chants line by line so that their congregations wouldn’t have to.
American actor Wendell Pierce’s voice boomed through the Amphitheater, deep and clear: “O for a Muse of fire, that would ascend the brightest heaven of
In a week dedicated to “America’s Spiritual Songbook,” one of the most potent messages is this: The history of American music is largely the history
The last time Rabbi Ken Kanter visited Chautauqua Institution, he presented a program at the Everett Jewish Life Center at Chautauqua on Jewish contributions to
Each Sunday, Wynton Marsalis and Geoffrey and Diane Raines Ward meet for breakfast at the Wards’ home. Over coffee and homemade biscuits, they talk about
At 18 years old, Cécile McLorin Salvant performed on a stage in a small French club for the first time. She closed her eyes as
Some Americans like to show their patriotism by wearing a flag pin on their lapel or hanging the stars and stripes outside their window. Baptist
For Michael Weis’ 30th birthday, his then-girlfriend gifted him a session with a psychic. Weis went into the meeting very skeptical, but the moment he
Many people may know him from HBO’s “The Wire” or “Treme” but New Orleans native Wendell Pierce knows the meaning and the history of jazz
Before jazz became “high art,” before it was played in Carnegie Hall and the world’s finest concert venues — before it could be heard at
At age 9, Geoffrey C. Ward fell ill with polio. In 1949, doctors thought it was best for young children not to know about their
Inheriting genealogical documents presents a challenge and an opportunity. Not everyone is able and inclined to carry on where other family members have left off.
The Rev. James H. Evans Jr. grew up in Detroit where “music is everywhere.” The city’s public schools had robust music programs, and Evans started