Arpeggione Ensemble Presents Brushstrokes: Where Music and Art Converge in an Inclusive Experience
In a world where artistic disciplines often remain separated, the Arpeggione Ensemble is breaking boundaries with their upcoming performance “Brushstrokes.” This innovative concert experience asks profound questions: Can music be expressed in color and line? Can a painting carry the rhythm of a melody? And perhaps most importantly – who is music for?
A Multisensory Concert Experience
On Saturday, May 10th at 4:00 pm, Peabody’s Black Box Theater at ArcWorks Community Art Center will transform into a space where sound and visuals dance together in real-time. This groundbreaking performance, developed in collaboration with the Children’s Center for Communication/Beverly School for the Deaf, reimagines what a concert can be by affirming that music is for everyone – regardless of hearing ability.
Bridging Deaf Culture and Musical Expression
The performance begins with something truly special – Deaf, Indigenous artist and activist Nancy Rourke will create a live painting on stage. In response, the musicians will communicate through Soundpainting, a method of group improvisation using gestures based on American Sign Language. This beautiful exchange creates a dialogue between visual art and music that transcends traditional boundaries.
The program continues with chamber arrangements of Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto and Haydn’s Symphony No. 104, featuring Arpeggione co-director Thomas Carroll as soloist on a basset clarinet he built himself. Meanwhile, hearing artist, musician, and synesthete Stephen Bates will create a second painting in real-time, inspired by the music being performed.
Breaking Barriers and Creating Access
What makes this performance truly unique is its commitment to accessibility. ASL interpreters will provide live signed representations of the music throughout the performance, making it accessible to people of all hearing levels. The event will also showcase artwork by students from the Beverly School for the Deaf.
This performance aligns perfectly with Arpeggione Ensemble’s mission as a BIPOC- and woman-led chamber group dedicated to access, innovation, and artistic excellence. Whether in a school gym or a historic venue, their performances create shared spaces of discovery, creativity, and connection.
Event Details
- Date: Saturday, May 10
- Time: 4:00 PM
- Location: Peabody Black Box Theater at ArcWorks Community Art Center
- Tickets: arpeggione-ensemble.com/brushstrokes
Featured Artists
- Musicians: Thomas Carroll (clarinet), Andrea LeBlanc (flute), Anna Griffis (violin), Emily Hale (violin), Lauren Nelson (viola), Jacques Wood (cello), Guinevere Connor (bass), April Sun (piano)
- Visual Artists: Nancy Rourke, Stephen Bates
- With support from: ASL Music Interpreters
Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity to experience art and music in a whole new way – where visual expression and sound unite to create something greater than the sum of their parts.
This event is funded in part by the Peabody Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency, and the Institution for Savings.
