Friday, May 12
Convivium 33 Gallery, 1433 E 33rd St, Cleveland
Doors at 7:30, music at 8:00
$15 suggested donation, no one will be turned away for lack of funds
A portion of the event’s proceeds will go to the local charity, Collaborative to End Human Trafficking. You can find out more at:
A torch song is a sentimental love song, typically used to lament a lost or unrequited love. In today's society, we see the torch song gaining new meaning. Expanding upon this tradition to include contemporary themes of loss and love, we celebrate the music of local female vocal artists, showcasing the artistic range and talent of Cleveland-area musicians. Each specializing in various music genres, we invite eight singers to reinterpret the torch song through their own artistic voices, bringing new relevance to the style. Performers are assembled throughout the space and perform multiple short songs, following one another in a rotating fashion. Illuminated solely by a "torch" of their choosing, each singer lights their torch as they perform and extinguishes the light as they conclude, signifying the beauty of ephemerality and fragility of life. Torch Song is the collaborative concert production between Cleveland Uncommon Sound Project (CUSP) and Cleveland-based vocal music curator, Melanie Emig.
About the artists:
Zeerak Ahmed / SLOWSPIN is a US-based Pakistani artist. Through sound, she explores notions of identity, memory and longing. Along with voice-based sculptures and meditative installations, she produces music that composes uniquely fragile sound collages. SLOWSPIN has a distinct sound practice grounded in Hindustaani Classical vocal traditions, folktronica and ambient experimental music.
Liz Bullock is a vocalist, songwriter, and music therapist in the Cleveland area. Her songwriting combines a love for folk, indie and pop. Her vocals draw on training in blues, jazz and classical. Her debut solo EP titled ‘Where to Begin’ is out now on all streaming platforms.
Naomi Columna is a musician and artist based in Cleveland, Ohio. Though trained in the western classical tradition of music, (MM, SFCM '19 and BM, CIM '16) Columna's desire to reframe, and take ownership of her practice informs a shape-shifting portfolio of works and projects that balance production and performance. In wrangling chicken wire props, building giant foam hands and paper heads, recording/editing audio and video, Columna enjoys the discovery of a genuine and ever-changing practice.
Melanie Emig is a performance curator, musician, and educator. Her interests include programming multi-disciplinary musical performances, usually with a strong visual, thematic, or storytelling element. She is attracted to twentieth century, avant-garde, and Baroque/early music, but above all values accessibility in her programming.
Elizabeth Hanje is a Tanzanian-American soprano from Birmingham, Alabama currently studying at Oberlin Conservatory studying under the direction of Salvatore Champagne. Hanje was a winner of the inaugural Duncan Williams Competition, George Shirley Competition in and the 2021 recipient of the Richard Miller Award for Fine Singing. Elizabeth recently made her professional debut with Oberlin and Opera Columbus in April of 2023 in the new work: Alice Tierney.
Elena Mullins Bailey specializes in music from Europe, c. 1000-1750. She co-founded two medieval music ensembles, the Cleveland-based Trobár and the Brooklyn-based Alkemie. She has a voice studio at Cleveland State University and conducts the Early Music Singers at Case Western Reserve University.
Amanda Powell, soprano enjoys a diverse career that includes classical, jazz, and global music performance. She has sung concerts around the world including venues in Spain, Italy, Mongolia, and China. Amanda also enjoys a vibrant career in national church circles, leading community singing. She is the Community Arts Liaison at The Cultural Arts Center at Disciples Church and teaches voice and improvisation at Cleveland State University. She currently tours with Italian folk/jazz group, Alla Boara.
Evelyn Wright is a professional vocalist for over thirty plus years. She revels in the styles of jazz, r&b and pop. Has toured throughout the United States and Canada performing in top clubs and concert halls. Has opened for the likes of Mel Torme, Joan Rivers, Harry Belafonte and David "Fathead" Newman. Performed for the First Lady Rosalyn Carter, Oprah Winfrey and General Colin Powell. In 2008 was given the Jazz Legend Award from Tri-C Community College. Also studied under Dr. Howard Tucker from Oberlin.