The latest addition to our Virtual Library presentations – carefully created to be made available to schools, community groups, colleges, and universities – is for our show “Of Ebony Embers”.

Book now for your this fall and
the upcoming spring semester!

“Of Ebony Embers” is a chamber music theatre work for actor and trio (cello, piano & percussion) celebrating the lives of the great African-American poets, Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen and Claude McKay as seen through the eyes of the great muralist and painter Aaron Douglas. Text is by Akin Babatunde. The musical score includes works by jazz giants Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton, Billy Strayhorn, Thelonius Monk and Charles Mingus as well as concert music by Jeffrey Mumford and George Walker.

The Core Ensemble is deeply grateful to the PNCBank Arts Alive Program for its recent donation! This funding will help us create a Virtual Library of our Music Theatre Pieces such as Tres Vidas, that Celebrate Diversity and Social Justice.

Check out the new trailer for the Ain't I a Woman! show – the newest addition to our Virtual Library presentations to be made available to schools, community groups, colleges and universities.

Book now for your this fall and
the upcoming spring semester!

Ain't I a Woman! is a chamber music theatre work for actress and trio (cello, piano & percussion) celebrating the lives and times of four significant African American Women: ex-slave and fiery abolitionist Sojourner Truth, renowned novelist and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston, exuberant folk artist Clementine Hunter and fervent civil rights worker Fannie Lou Hamer.  Text is by Kim Hines.The musical score is drawn from the heartfelt sprituals of the Deep South, the urban exuberance of the Jazz Age and concert music by African American composers.

The Core Ensemble is deeply grateful to the PNCBank Arts Alive Program for its recent donation! This funding will help us create a Virtual Library of our Music Theatre Pieces such as Tres Vidas, that Celebrate Diversity and Social Justice.

Check out the new trailer for the Tres Vidas show – the first of our Virtual Library presentations to be made available to schools, community groups, colleges and universities. Book now for your fall semester!

Tres Vidas is a chamber music theatre work for singing actress and trio (cello, piano and percussion) based on the lives of three legendary Latin American Women: Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, Salvadoran peasant activist Rufina Amaya and Argentinean poet Alfonsina Storni. Text is by Marjorie Agosin. The show features a wide stylistic range of music, including popular and folk songs of Mexico, El Salvador and Argentina, vocal and instrumental tangos by Carlos Gardel and Astor Piazzolla and new music written especially for the Core Ensemble by Osvaldo Golijov and Manuel DeMurga.

The Core Ensemble is deeply grateful to the PNCBank Arts Alive Program for its recent donation! This funding will help us create a Virtual Library of our Music Theatre Pieces such as Tres Vidas, that Celebrate Diversity and Social Justice. Over the coming year, our Virtual Library will be made available to schools, community groups, colleges, and universities. A wonderful gift that arrived at just the right moment! 

This week we celebrate the birthday of Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero, who was born August 15, 1917. A tireless champion of social justice for his people and outspoken critic of poverty and violent social repression. In the Core Ensemble show “Los Valientes” Romero  is portrayed by actor David Perez Ribada. Here is a clip of the Archbishop recalling his place of birth:

And watch as Romero expounds upon his concept of peace:

Core Ensemble diversity programs would not exist without the help of our donors! Your support will enable us to create a Virtual Library of our Music Theatre Pieces that Celebrate Diversity and Social Justice. “Los Valientes” will be just one of our virtual show offerings, to be made available to schools, community groups, colleges, and universities. THANK YOU!