Artist Note- “Miracles Happen!”

 

It is my fourth year participating in The Village Trip and I feel very fortunate to express my gratitude to Freedom 250 for this year’s festival and commission. Through these events I learned about Tanitoluwa Emmanuel “Tani” Adewumi, who starrting out as a refugee from Nigerian to NY, won the 2019 K-3 NY State chess championship at the age of eight and currently holds the title of International Master in Chess. In his book, “My Name Is Tani . . . and I Believe in Miracles”, Tani states, “Chess wasn’t about where you lived or what you owned. Chess was about hard work!”. His story reminded me of my first arrival in NYC and experiences as a musician. As I began to meet and form relationships with other musicians I was deeply inspired by their enthusiasm and desire to put in the same passionate driven work that Tani speaks of!

 

My composition, “Miracles Happen!”, honors both Tani and the United States’ 250th birthday. Within the piece one will find the Nigerian and American National anthems, “Happy Birthday,” and pizzicato notes representing the sound of chess pieces moving across the board.

 

Lastly I dedicate this music to Garret Keast who conducted the premier and has granted me with inspiration. I echo his belief, “Never Give Up!”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Shoko Suzuki