IAN MAKSIN: AMOR RENATUS (Rebirth of Love)

Join renowned cellist, composer, and multilingual vocalist Ian Maksin for another amazing musical journey in search of light, love, and empowerment. This album unveils a collection of original instrumental compositions for cello, powerfully augmented into virtual orchestra through the use of loop pedal, and further expanded by sound of diverse percussion instruments ranging from trance-inducing grooves of the West African djembe to deep, heart-beat-like sound of the Mongolian frame drum.    Inspired by music of Vivaldi, Mozart, Piazzolla and fused with traditional music from Africa, the Middle East and the Balkans, his new album “Amor Renatus” elevates you to a new realm outside the dimensions of time, place and identity, giving an opportunity to process deep, dark emotions, to ultimately rediscover peace and to find enlightenment and healing for the soul. Ian    Maksin has created his own unique style by blending elements of different genres and traditional music from around the globe in a new way using his cello as the main unifying force. He uses the loop pedal and other electronic devices to augment the sound of the cello and turn it into a virtual orchestra. He sings pop and traditional songs from around the globe in more than 30 and writes his own originals in at least four. He has released several albums of original music for cello inspired by his world travels and collaborations with native musicians.    Apart from performing the entire new album, in the second half of the concert Ian Maksin will perform other original instrumental compositions as well as traditional songs from Maksin's collection of over 200 songs in 31 languages. Portion of the ticket and merch sales from this tour will be directed to benefit humanitarian relief organizations in areas affected by war.


Les Délices presents: Winds of Change

Les Délices presents creative and worldclass performances of chamber music. This October, Les Délices’ acclaimed concert Winds of Change leaps from the screen to the stage with virtuoso flutist Emi Ferguson. Join Les Délices for this all-instrumental program of riveting chamber works from the eve of the French and Haitian Revolutions. Inspired by philosophical ideals of liberty and equality and early abolitionist writing, we pair Classical Era works by Joseph Bologne Chevalier de St. Georges and Luigi Boccherini with Haitian composer Sydney Guillaume’s commission A Journey to Freedom. At this performance, Singers from Cleveland School for the Arts (Robert McCorvey, director), Cleveland State University (Brian Bailey, director), and University of Akron (Maria Bucoy-Calavan, director) will perform additional works by Guillaume. This program will be repeated on Friday, Oct. 21st in Akron and on Sunday, Oct. 23rd in Rocky River, Ohio.


Crossing Borders: Immigration Narratives in Cleveland (submit now!)

Literary Cleveland is currently accepting submissions of original work on the theme of immigration. Selected works will be included in an original staged reading on Sat. March 18th and Sun. March 19th as part of the Cleveland Humanities Festival. We encourage writers to interpret the theme broadly, and welcome submissions from all genres -- including (but not limited to) poetry, memoir, short story, and creative nonfiction. Submissions do not have to be written in first-person. Maximum word count for submissions should be no more than 2,500 words.

Young writers and teens are encouraged to submit, and we especially encourage entries from individuals who might not consider themselves writers but have an important story to tell. To clarify, your story does not have to include Cleveland; we are simply calling on Cleveland writers and residents to tell a story relating to the theme of immigration. Previously published work is eligible for submission too.

Submissions will be reviewed by a committee comprised of both Lit Cleveland board members and community members. Payment for accepted works consists of two free tickets to the staged performance, as well as recognition on stage and in the program.

In order to transform your written work into a dynamic performance, Lit Cleveland will engage a director to work with actors to provide a dramatic interpretation of selected works. If you are looking for ways to jumpstart your writing, Lit Cleveland will host a free workshop titled “Writing Your Family History” on Sat. Feb. 4th, from 10a-12p at Lake Erie Ink, 2843 Washington Blvd., Cleve. Hts. 44118.

The deadline for submissions is Feb. 15th. Please send submissions to [email protected] and use “Crossing Borders: Immigrant Narratives in Cleveland” as the subject header. If you have any questions, please send them to [email protected] and we will respond as quickly as possible.

“Crossing the Border: Immigrant Narratives in Cleveland” will be produced in collaboration with Cleveland State University’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and will be held in the CSU Student Center ballroom. This event is co-sponsored by the Baker-Nord Center for the Humanities and Cleveland State University’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.