8 Billion + 1

Friday, March 24th, 2023, at 7:30 pm

The Actors’ Chapel, 239 West 49th Street, New York, NY

Saturday, March 25th, 2023 at 8:00 pm

Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church, 30 N Fullerton Ave, Montclair, NJ

What It’s About:

As the global population surpasses eight billion people, we must come together to discuss the realities of our impact on the planet and each other. In this thought-provoking choral concert, we explore the ramifications of this staggering milestone through its impact on nature and how we interact with it; through the impact of education on population growth; and through the importance of innovation to address challenges of sustainability.

Complete Program:

• Lúdí Yán (World Premiere) (2022) - Music by James W. Knox, Poem by Carrie Williams Clifford

• Bringers of Noise (2022) - Words and Music by Kyle Pederson

• Tuttarana (2016) - by Reena Esmail

• Water Songs (World Premiere)* -Music by David Avshalomov

• Water I: All Day I Hear Noise of Waters (2022) - Text by James Joyce

• Water II: Waterfall (At Lu-shan) (2022) - Text by Li-po

• Water III: GPGP (The Great Pacific Garbage Patch) (2023) Text by David Avshalomov

• Water (2015) - by Anders Edenroth

• Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine (2002) - Music by Eric Whitacre, Text by Charles Anthony Silvestri 

• Malala, Pakistani Girl** (2014) - Music by Larry Nickel, Text by Malala Yousafzai (quoted)

• Will You Teach Me (2009) - Music by Victor C. Johnson, Text Anonymous 

• May It Be (2001) - by Enya as performed by VOCES 8, arr. Pacis Eusebe Ndoli Ndahiro

• We Are the World (1985) - Words and Music by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, arr. Roger Emerson

*David Avshalomov’s Water Songs is the product of a commissioning consortium, of which Dr. King was the initial sponsor.

**A portion of the proceeds of this song will be donated to The Malala Fund. An organization that is working for a world where every girl can learn and lead.