February 27, 2022 | 2:30-4:00 pm
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Contemporaneous will be joining Cave Canem, an organization whose mission is to cultivate the artistic and professional growth of African-American poets, for a unique virtual event celebrating the life and work of Russell Atkins. Atkins is known primarily as a poet, but is also an accomplished composer. Tragically, most of his music manuscripts were destroyed, leaving few performances of his musical work. Contemporaneous has produced a video of a new performance of a surviving solo piano work of Atkins', performed by core pianist Milena Gligić, which will be shared during this event, alongside other discussion and celebration of Atkins' work.

A Tribute to Russell Atkins is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, and by public funds from The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and support from the Aaron Copland Fund for Music, New Music USA, Pacific Harmony Foundation, and the Peter S. Reed Foundation.