We had the good fortune of connecting with Kaleidoscope MusArt, Inc. and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kaleidoscope MusArt, what do you want people to remember about you?
Kaleidoscope MusArt would like to be remembered for helping people to approach classical music with an open mind, dispelling any set notion of what music can be while also discovering the full range of intellectual and emotional inspiration that it can provide. As the world changes at a fast pace, so does contemporary music. Yet, we are also shaped by what has come before us. In order to help forge a classical music scene in which concert programs reflect the world we live in, we program music from a wide range of backgrounds and time periods, and strive to inspire artists and the community at large to discover new music. By “new,” we mean not only recently composed works, but also the masterpieces of past centuries that somehow slipped through the cracks of history and remain largely unknown to the general public and music scholars alike. Our concert programs bridge newly composed works, rarely performed compositions that deserve attention, and established masterworks, presenting them in thematic programs that explore and articulate the links between them. We also hope to make classical music a more vibrant and collaborative experience, striving to facilitate a deeper bond between performers, composers, and audiences. Our concerts include talks by performing artists and composers that help illuminate the conceptual and philosophical connections unifying seemingly distant times and cultures. Our annual Call for Scores and Young Talents Showcase projects promote collaboration between emerging composers and performers while also supporting their work. Finally, our interdisciplinary collaborations that meld music with other art forms help to bring fresh perspectives to everyone involved. We hope to create a legacy of honoring the past and the present, and keeping the spirit of artistic exploration alive.

Please tell us more about your art. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
Classical music is often labelled as being “dead,” “elitist,” or “obsolete.” We feel quite the opposite – that there is a large and diverse body of exciting new repertoire and undiscovered gems from the past that rarely get performed. This overlooked music contains powerful and relevant messages for society, and as a voice of different cultures, times, and places, needs to be heard. We founded Kaleidoscope MusArt to address this gap, believing that it is vital for the future of classical music that it is represented in its full range of expression. Our distinctive approach to programming focuses on the presentation of emerging artists and living composers, showcasing the plurality of genres and styles of classical music, finding meaningful connections between these styles, and highlighting the notion that music exists on a continuum. In order to get to where we are professionally, we all worked hard to achieve the highest possible education in our field. We felt compelled to channel our artistic gifts and academic experience in a creative way that served the community. Inevitably, along the way we have encountered challenges and roadblocks that have tested our knowledge, patience, and ability to adapt and problem-solve, but we have managed to persevere, thanks to courage, friendship, and teamwork… well, and lots of coffee. Through these challenges, we have learned that believing in a vision helps one to overcome hardship, and also makes the journey worth the while. In working with other individuals and organizations, we have learned that it is important to know when to ask for help, and how crucial it is to communicate clearly throughout the execution of a project. Often, we have found ourselves diving into projects with a “Just do it!” attitude, and sometimes, that is the push that is needed in order to progress to new levels.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Miami is a melting pot of cultures and lifestyles and we are always happy to show off its versatility to friends and guest artists. We would certainly recommend enjoying a stroll across Miracle Mile in Coral Gables, stopping by for lunch at El Porteño-Bodegon Argentino, or for dinner at Aromas del Peru. If one happens to be around Coral Gables during brunch, we also love the menu at Threefold Cafe. Some of the most iconic spots in Miami that we would not want our guests to miss are Vizcaya Gardens, Perez Art Museum, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens, South Beach, and the art galleries in Wynwood. As many of our team members are graduates of the University of Miami, we also love to show our guests its beautiful campus surrounding Lake Osceola. A couple more places that we would recommend our guests to visit would be the New World Center in South Beach for orchestral and chamber music performances as well as Lagniappe House for live jazz, blues, funk, and many more genres.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Thank you for this opportunity. We have a long list of thanks to give and perhaps it could never be complete… First, we would like to deeply thank the staff and administration of Steinway Gallery Miami, and in particular – Mr. Gregory Spiess (formerly – sales manager at Steinway Gallery Miami) for supporting our “Kaleidoscope Concert Series” initiative from its start and generously offering their venue for our concerts free of charge. Steinway Gallery was the primary venue for our concert series from its inception in 2015 through the 2018-19 concert season. Kaleidoscope MusArt Concert Series quickly became a non-profit organization – Kaleidoscope MusArt, Inc. – thanks to the support and guidance of Mr. George Mattox, president of Hispanic American Lyric Theatre, who encouraged us to incorporate with the state of Florida and join the vibrant community of arts organizations of Miami. Of course, our teachers and mentors who have guided us throughout our lives have played a major role in shaping our musical and personal identities, and thus in shaping our organization. What brought the multinational KMA team together were our common musical aspirations and the friendship that we formed during our studies at the University of Miami. We would like to thank our mentors who have supported KMA from day one – Prof. Santiago Rodriguez, Dr. Naoko Takao, Prof. Frank Cooper, Dr. Dorothy Hindman, Dr. Charles Mason – as well as all of our teachers, colleagues, friends, and the entire UM community for their support throughout these years. We would also like to thank all of the artists and composers who have appeared on our series and have supported our endeavors to bring unique artistic experiences to the audiences of Miami. Our activity would simply not be possible without the support of individual donors; sponsors such as Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, the City of Coral Gables, and Florida State Department of Cultural Affairs; as well as our local partners El Porteño – Bodegon Argentino (http://xn--elporteo-j3a.com/), Hotel St. Michel (https://www.hotelstmichel.com/), Miami Printing (https://miamiprinting.com/), Media for Change (https://mediaforchange.org/), and the Advanced Preparatory Piano Program division of the Frost School of Music Prep Program (https://www.prep.frost.miami.edu/programs/advanced-piano-program/index.html )   

Website: https://kaleidoscopemusart.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaleidomusart/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kaleidoscope-musart-inc
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kaleidomusart?lang=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaleidoscopeMusArt/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChUkh9oNrYC8OhWZopw58ng
Other: We invite you to visit our blog “Composer Spotlight:” https://kaleidoscopemusart.com/composer-spotlight/

Image Credits
Redi Llupa

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