Eight Eight Time

Intercultural Journeys

Promotional shot feauring composer-pianists Kendrah Butler-Waters, Terry Klinefelter, Sumi Tonooka, and Suzzette Ortiz. — Composer-pianists Kendrah Butler-Waters, Terry Klinefelter, Sumi Tonooka, and Suzzette Ortiz, four of the artists of *Eight Eight Time*, presented by Intercultural Journeys (March 2025). Photo by Ted Waters III.

Recipient

Grant Year 2023

Grant Amount $120,500

Status Forthcoming

Updated December 18, 2023

Four composer-pianists translate community memories into a 12-movement suite written for an ensemble of four pianos as well as solo performances. Kendrah Butler-Waters, Terry Klinefelter, Suzzette Ortiz, and Pew Fellow Sumi Tonooka gather groups who are reflective of their own experiences—from Black, Latino, Asian, and neurodiverse communities—to share seminal life moments such as birth, parenting, caregiving, and generational passing. These stories inform the compositions as well as a spoken narrative developed by Pew Fellow, poet, and curator Yolanda Wisher.

The total grant amount represents project funding plus an additional 20% in unrestricted general operating support.

Recipient

Intercultural Journeys

Intercultural Journeys seeks to promote understanding and bridge cultural divides among people of diverse faiths and cultures through the presentation of music, dance, and spoken word performances. Formed in 1998, Intercultural Journeys has held nearly 150 concerts featuring international artists such as Native American flutist R. Carlos Nakai, Palestinian composer Simon Shaheen, jazz violinist Diane Monroe, and Chinese erhu player Jiebing Chen.

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