CINCINNATI, OH APRIL 2015 – The MYCincinnati Ambassador Ensemble is a string sextet of young Price Hill musicians led by violinist, MYCincinnati Assistant Director, and Cincinnati Art Ambassador Fellow Eddy Kwon.
For the 2014-15 school year, the group (ages 12-15) engaged in weekly critical discussions around identity (with a focus on race and gender), social justice, power, and the artist as an agent of change. Using these riveting and intense conversations as creative inspiration, Eddy worked with the students to compose a performance work that organically combines chamber music with themes of social justice. Artistically avant-garde, socially critical, and radiating with youthful energy, the final work is a culmination and celebration of a year’s effort and collective growth.
The entire process — from the initial discussions to the intense rehearsals — has been documented by world-renowned photographer Michael Wilson. He and his son, Henry Wilson of Cincinnati Recording Service, have been crafting a beautiful documentary film that will be screened at the beginning of each event.
MYCincinnati is a free, daily youth orchestra program in Price Hill that uses music as a vehicle for youth development, community engagement, and social change. Over 60 young musicians meet for at least 2 hours every weekday, learning violin, viola, cello, double bass, and playing in an orchestra. MYCincinnati is inspired by El Sistema, Venezuela’s national youth development program that is transforming the lives of over 500,000 children annually.