Pianist Lara Downes Presents Spirituals And Freedom Song Workshops With At-Risk Youth And Local Youth Choirs Across U.S. This Spring

The new album from pianist Lara Downes, Some Of These Days (April 3), presents traditional Spirituals and freedom songs not as historical artifacts, but as vital and evolving music that is essential to the ongoing quest for freedom and equality in American life. With that vision, she is dedicating her recording and her album tour to her driving mission of youth engagement, education and mentorship.

Throughout 2020 Lara will host workshops and performances nationwide with at-risk youth and local youth choirs. She will use selections featured on Some Of These Days - “We Shall Overcome,” “Down By The Riverside,” “Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child,” “Steal Away” and others - to teach younger generations about the powerful legacy and lineage of these freedom songs.

Lara and the students will talk about the history of these songs together, then rehearse and perform them as a way to foster a deeper connection to the lessons of the past while illuminating the potential of the future. Exploring the texts and melodies, Lara will lead students in reflection of the nature of progress, and ask them to recognize and articulate their own potential to act as agents of change in their communities.

Workshops are scheduled in New York City, Los Angeles, Sacramento, St. Louis, Eugene, Louisville and Chicago. For the album's release on April 3, Lara will celebrate in concert at the California African American Museum in Los Angeles to benefit the Watts Learning Center, a K-8 neighborhood transformation charter school. The event will feature performances by WLC Middle School students; tickets will be on sale and open to the public in the coming weeks.

February 20-21: Eugene, OR

March 16: Brooklyn Youth Chorus workshop - Brooklyn NY

March 24-25: Ravinia Reach Teach Play workshops - Chicago IL

April 2: Watts Learning Center workshops - Los Angeles, CA

April 3: Benefit concert for Watts Learning Center - Los Angeles, CA

May 29-June 1: St. Louis, MO

May 30: NPR From the Top with St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra

TBD: Sacramento, CA

Lara just announced Some Of These Days and released her recording of “Steal Away” featuring Toshi Reagon. Listen at American Songwriter: https://americansongwriter.com/lara-downes-releases-steal-away-first-single-from-forthcoming-album/ryan-baltz-2/ 

Another highlight from the forthcoming album Some Of These Days is Lara's arresting rendition of “Hold On,” a piece by trailblazing African-American composer Margaret Bonds, and featuring PUBLIQuartet and the Chicago-based youth chorus, Musicality Vocal. As Bonds' birthplace, Lara recorded with Musicality during a trip to Chicago in 2019, paying homage to her life and legacy. Listen to “Hold On” here: LISTEN

The album closes as Lara is joined in conversation by Newbery Award-winning author, Jacqueline Woodson — the former National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and Young People's Poet Laureate — for an in-depth reflection on the American journey for freedom and the potential today's generations hold to bring a brighter future. Listen to their discussion here: LISTEN

Regarded nationally as a leader in arts education and advocacy, Lara works regularly with youth organizations including the Lower Eastside Girls Club, Watts Learning Center, Sphinx Organization, Time In Children’s Arts Initiative, Musicality Vocal Ensemble, Colburn Community School, Brooklyn Youth Chorus, Washington Performing Arts, Ravinia Reach Teach Play, and NPR’s From The Top, where she appears as a rotating guest host.