NEW INITIATIVES FOR 2023
IN THE U.S. AND BEYOND...
THE TATSUYA DANIEL ORCHESTRA
A bicoastal, U.S.-based initiative with incredible global implications
The Tatsuya Daniel Orchestra (TD Orchestra for short) is a full orchestra made up of more than 140 musicians across the United States, who study or have studied at institutions such as Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford University, Princeton University, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Brown University, Columbia University, New England Conservatory, University of Chicago, Dartmouth College, and the Manhattan School of Music, among many others.
Launched during the pandemic, the primary goal of the TD Orchestra is to perform and record brand new music by contemporary composers exploring some of the most relevant themes and global challenges of our time. The ensemble is charting new territory with their music, which they continue to present in innovative ways (both online and in-person).
Work has also begun on the longer-term objective of establishing music schools in the various countries where the orchestra’s international collaborators are located. Schools have already been established in Uganda, Ghana, and Botswana (with plans underway to expand to Papua New Guinea, Germany, the Philippines, Malaysia, Haiti, Brazil, and Australia)—where underserved communities are learning to read and play music, sing, and dance, among other fields of study.
WWMU has played a central role in forging many of these connections, and will continue to collaborate by leveraging its network, platform, technical knowledge, financial resources, and expertise in bringing musicians together—both across the U.S. and all over the world—to support shared aims such as collective creativity and social impact.
International collaborators will all play a role in the new music created by the TD Orchestra, whose members will also be sharing their research and expertise in non-musical fields (including the sciences, engineering, liberal arts, and humanities) in the communities where those needs exist. Together we will provide unparalleled hope and opportunity for participants, along with an unprecedented experience for audiences across the globe.
SILENT FOREST
Igniting a passion for environmental activism in the Americas and beyond
Planned to launch in the later stages of 2023, Silent Forest is a unique project combining technology, ecology, and social action to forge a powerful connection between music and nature.
This series of “silent concerts” will feature distinguished artists, cutting-edge technology, and nature’s most stunning backdrops to create immersive and distraction-free experiences that raise awareness about the devastating effects of deforestation and climate change.
By seamlessly linking the arts and the natural environment—including through partnerships with local artisans, conservationists, and sustainability experts—Silent Forest seeks to inspire a deeper appreciation for the beauty of our planet and ignite a passion for its preservation by planting seeds of positive change in communities around the world.
Stay tuned for the inaugural concert from South America…and then hopefully in a town near you!
NATIVE AMERICAN DIGITAL REPOSITORY AND DATABASE OF SOUNDSCAPES
An Indigenous-led, multi-disciplinary approach to an American issue
This project aims to create a comprehensive database of soundscapes—made up of the languages, music, and ambient sounds of Native American communities—compiled through professional field recordings and documentation.
With the primary objective of cultural preservation, the project will not only involve close collaboration with Native American communities, but also encourage the participation of expert partner organizations to ensure the centering of Indigenous voices as well as maximal procedural effectiveness at every stage of the initiative.
The database will also be a valuable resource for linguists, anthropologists, and musicologists interested in the diversity and richness of Native American cultures. The use of digital technologies will not only help communities to store a dynamic record of their heritage online (including for use by future generations whose traditions have been endangered), but also promote a broader understanding of Native American cultures for wider audiences.
By raising awareness of the importance of natural and cultural soundscapes, the Native American Soundscape Project is contributing to a broader movement for environmental and socio-cultural preservation. While the project is currently focused on California, its methods and goals have the potential to be implemented throughout the United States.
WWMU acknowledges that its headquarters in Encinitas, California reside on land not officially ceded, and which has belonged to the Kumeyaay people for more than 10,000 years. We recognize and respect Indigenous peoples as the traditional stewards of the land upon which we carry out our work in California, across the broader U.S., and all over the world.
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