POSTPONED: The Music of Poetry: Robert Hitz Studio and Passager Press

Due to COVID-19, this event will be rescheduled until a future time.

John C. Wilson, studio member and Passager board member, had the idea to invite student composers to use poems by Passager Press’ writers as a creative prompt for composing new musical compositions. And what excitement it has created for the ten participating composers. Mondul Kao said, “This is an incredibly fun way to compose new music. I’m loving this project.”

Composers will respond to poems in a variety of ways -- some using words as song lyrics, others improvising piano compositions that capture the spirit of the poem or more literally interpret the poem. Studio members Evan Alexander, Trenton Alford, Ora Chaya Brock, Felicia Clarke, Rob Clemons, Katie Hamblin, Randy Hayes, Mondul Kao, Dawn Rumano, as well as maestro Hitz will be featured.

Passager is an independent literary press based in Baltimore that focuses exclusively on publishing older writers. Passager authors, ranging in age from their mid-60s to 101, will be featured with most reading their own poem prior to the musical performance inspired by their writing. Poets include Gilbert Arzola, Fay Ashby, Shirley Brewer, Jean Connor, Kendra Kopelke, Kathy Mangan, Steve Matanle, Sarah Merrow, Henry Morganthau III, and Sarah Yerkes.

The concert is dedicated to the memory of Hilda Perl Goodwin, a longtime Baltimore piano teacher, and supporter of Passager, Baltimore Hebrew Congregation’s music program, the BSO, the Baltimore Opera, and Peabody Conservatory. 

Free admission, goodwill offering accepted.