THE AMERICAN JOURNEY

Event Title:  Melting Pot or Exploding Kettle?  The Forgotten History of American Immigration.

Speaker:  Dr. Paul Fessler, Chair, Dept. of Humanities, Dordt College                         

Date/Time:  Fri., Nov. 16, 2007   7:00 PM     

Location: Quincy Unitarian Church   1479 Hampshire St., Quincy, IL  62301

Description:   This presentation will highlight the broad contours of America’s immigrant past from the early 1800s through the mid 20^th century.  Amid heated immigration debates in contemporary America, most Americans do not know that such debates are nothing new in American history.  From the prevalent anti-Catholic prejudice against many mid 19^th century immigrants to the nationwide campaign against German-Americans after U.S. entry into World War I, the dominant American culture has had a long love-hate relationship with immigrants.  Rather than assimilating immediately into English-speaking American culture, many of our immigrant ancestors never spoke English!  Bilingual education in public schools became dominant in the ‘60s—but did you know it was the 1860s when this first happened?

Event Title:  American Immigration in Comparative Perspective

Panelists:  Dr. Julia Albarracin, Dr. Paul Fessler, Dr. Scott Giltner, Dr. Patrick Hotle.

Date/Time:  Sat., Nov. 17, 2007    1:15 PM       

Location:  Quincy Jr. High School Morrison Theatre   100 S. 14^th St.,  Quincy, IL  62301

Description:  This round-table discussion will focus on placing current debates on immigration within a comparative, historical context.   Possible issues for discussion include national immigration policies, bilingual education, economics, and public attitudes towards immigration.  Panelists will include Dr. Julia Albarracin, Dr. Paul Fessler, and Dr. Scott Giltner.  Dr. Patrick Hotle will facilitate the discussion.

Event Title:  The American Journey – Concert Comments

Speaker:  Dr. Bruce Briney, Music Director, Quincy Symphony Orchestra

Date/Time:  Sat., Nov. 17, 2007    2:20 PM       

Location:  Quincy Jr. High School Morrison Theatre   100 S. 14^th St.,  Quincy, IL  62301

Description:  Dr. Briney will discuss the music about to be heard at the American Journey Family Concert, including George Chadwick’s Jubilee from Symphonic Sketches, Aaron Copland’s The Tender Land Suite and Peter Boyer’s Ellis Island:  The Dream of America.

Event Title:  The American Journey Family Concert

Performers:  The Quincy Symphony Orchestra in collaboration with the Quincy Community Theatre

Date/Time:  Sat., Nov. 17, 2007    3:00 PM     

Location:  Quincy Jr. High School Morrison Theatre    100 S. 14^th St.,  Quincy, IL  62301

Description:  This symphony concert for all ages will feature works by American composers.  The centerpiece of the performance will be Peter Boyer’s Ellis Island:  The Dream of America, a 43-minute work for actors and orchestra with projected images.  The performance of Ellis Island uses of a combination of historical facts, music, theatre, and photography to convey the human experience of our immigrant ancestors.   Ellis Island includes the visual projection of historic images from the Ellis Island Immigration Museum Library.  From its opening video images of immigrants arriving at Ellis Island to the final shots of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island: The Dream of America is a work of rare authenticity and directness.  The spoken texts come from the Ellis Island Oral History Project, an historic collection of interviews with actual immigrants about their experiences coming to America.  Actors portray seven immigrants who came to America through Ellis Island from disparate nations between 1910-1940.  The actual words of these immigrants combine with orchestration which frames and comments on their stories—at times poignant, humorous, moving, inspiring. The work concludes with a reading of The New Colossus (“Give me your tired, your poor…”), providing an emotionally powerful ending to this celebration of our nation of immigrants.  The QSO will supplement Boyer’s work with major compositions on the theme of the American Journey by prominent American composers, including George Chadwick’s Jubilee from Symphonic Sketches, and Aaron Copland’s The Tender Land Suite.

Contact:  Jane Polett, QSOA General Manager     
217-222-2856      qsoa@adams.net          
www.qsoa.org