Cultural Crossroads:
Dvořák in America
Kenneth Kellogg, bass
R. Carlos Nakai, Native flute
Will Clipman, world percussion
The Ciompi Quartet
Pamela Freund-Striplen, curator/narrator/violist
“There were times during the performance when I noticed people wiping their eyes, overcome by the beauty of the music as well as the message it conveyed. I sincerely hope that many others are so lucky to experience the beauty of this concert. ”
- Kathy Wallis , Executive Director, Beaches Fine Arts Series
“We saw many new faces in the hall last night who came specifically for
last night’s concert.”
- Catherine Hughes, Executive Director, Brooks Center for the Performing Arts
Cultural Crossroads: Dvořák in America is a live concert experience that explores the Black and Indigenous influences on Dvořák during his years in the United States. The program interweaves original Native American melodies, moving African American spirituals, and Dvořák’s most beloved chamber works, complete with storytelling videos and imagery that create a powerful multimedia experience. With its stellar cast of musicians, Cultural Crossroads serves as a catalyst for audience engagement—entertaining, educating, and inspiring, all sparked by the curiosity of a Czech composer more than a century ago.
Cultural Crossroads: Dvořák in America brings together eight world‑class artists available for international touring: Native American flute legend R. Carlos Nakai; the Ciompi Quartet; percussionist Will Clipman; violist Pamela Freund‑Striplen; and an exceptional featured vocalist, either bass Kenneth Kellogg or lyric baritone Robert Sims.
“I thought Dvorak in America was brilliant. It has an important story to tell and is quite effective in performance. The playing and singing was beautiful. I feel that the form of narrated plus musical playing has a future. The recontextualizing of the American Quintet, R. Carlos Nakai’s music, and three spirituals was quite effective. So rich!”
- Steve Jaffe, Mary and James H. Semans Professor of Music Composition at Duke University
Immerse yourself in the sounds that inspired Dvořák’s most beloved chamber music. From moving African American Spirituals to original Native American rhythms and melodies, you’ll hear why Dvořák famously asserted “in the Negro and Indian melodies of America I discover all that is needed for a great and noble school of music.”
Cultural Crossroads interweaves Dvořák’s “American” Quartet and Quintet with these inspirational elements creating a vivid tapestry of cultural exchange.
“It was so timely of our political and cultural happenings... you created a sense of unity of the world and cultures.”
-Yana Reznik
“I only wish there were more concerts that have this kind of powerful archetypal story to share. We are living at a time where this is needed. The response from my community was overwhelming.”
- Susan Martin, Gualala Arts Center
