After a year in production, WYCC Ch. 20’s documentary about the city’s premiere mid-sized Chicago Sinfonietta is a tribute to its founder, Maestro Paul Freeman, who retires this spring, and pays homage to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. whose birthday will be nationally celebrated Jan. 17.
“Sounds of Diversity” will air Jan. 9 at 9 p.m. and Jan. 15 at 7 and 11 p.m.
In 1987, Maestro Paul Freeman founded what’s called “the nation’s most diverse symphony orchestra,” a cultural crossroads of talented soloists, composers and musicians of color.
The hour-long doc, produced and directed by Ch. 20’s Jim White, covers the inception of the orchestra, its struggles and present reputation and awareness.
“This kind of meaningful and inspirational project comes along just a few times in one’s career. It was an honor to meet and work with Maestro Paul Freeman. He is truly a visionary,” White said.
In the documentary, Maestro Freeman discusses his passion for classical music at an early age, his first hand experience dealing with structural racism and a personal relationship with Dr. King, White notes.
Relates the Maestro: “I met Dr. King when he received the Nobel Peace Prize and again a few weeks before his assassination,” relates Freeman. “I arrived at the Atlanta Airport as he was leaving. He asked me why was I in Atlanta. I told him I was here to be the guest conductor of the Atlanta Symphony. King exclaimed, “The last bastion of southern elitism, glory halleluiah!”
In the doc’s final sequence is a musical tribute to Dr. King, “The Dream Unfolds,” performed with the 100 members of the Northwestern University Chorus in front of a live audience at Chicago’s Symphony Center.
Ch. 20 production credits: Keno Greer directed the live Sinfonietta performances; producers, Megan Etlinger, Erin Walanka and Stephanie Menendez; camera handled by Andrew Friend, Erasmo Rivera, Mike McKenna and Esau Melendez and Art Betts; audio, Chris Ussery and Torry Smith; editor, Eryn Walanka
Engineers, Harvey Harris and Deshun Smith; technical director/crew chief, Paul Jurack; CGI/titles, Marina Muzychenko and David Pellenz and still photographer, Estelle Cruz-Lee.
