Please join Oakland-based Awesöme Orchestra Collective on Saturday, December 3, 2022 as they premiere the nine-movement Requiem Sinfónica: A Requiem Without Words at the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts in Oakland to commemorate the 36 lives lost in the tragic Ghost Ship fire of 2016. This free concert is for the Oakland community to come together on the six-year anniversary of the tragedy for a collective night to heal, honor, grieve, and celebrate the “36 stars” who perished.
Local composer and flutist, Arturo Rodriguez, began composing Requiem Sinfónica in late 2016, having been deeply affected by this tragedy in his community. He was searching for an outlet for his grief and what followed became a full nine-movement, 90-minute requiem, and six-year collaboration with Awesöme Orchestra.
Traditionally written as a mass for the dead, the musical form of a Requiem interprets a soul’s journey from their time of passing, to their assent to paradise. While most requiems include a chorus, Requiem Sinfónica is instead written solely for full orchestra, to represent the silencing of those we’ve lost in the community.
This one-night only event will feature a 65+ piece full symphony orchestra, artwork from local artists and those lost in the tragedy, and will also include an interactive element, allowing for multimedia contributions from the community. Many Oakland-based businesses and organizations will be in attendance in a show of solidarity. Principal funding for this event comes from a generous gift by the California Arts Council and Civic Foundation.
This event will be free and open to the public, but seats must be reserved through Eventbrite to attend. In an effort to include as much of the community as possible, we will also be professionally livestreaming this event for those who cannot join us in person.
All ages and ADA accessible. All attendees will need to show proof of full vaccination + booster against COVID-19 in order to enter the venue. Masks are required for all attendees.