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In lieu of its traditional end-of-term concert this fall, the Carleton College Choir recorded and pieced together a performance of “#UnitedWeDream,” a composition by Melissa Dunphy and poetry by Claudia D. Hernández.
The composition raises up a life story involving immigration and the DREAM Act. The work is a collaboration between two artists—composer Melissa Dunphy and writer and photographer Claudia D. Hernández—with personal stories of immigration and refugeeism. Hernández is well known for her work founding the project, Today’s Revolutionary Women of Color.
“I selected #UnitedWeDream hoping it would offer the Carleton Choir and myself an interdisciplinary opportunity to learn from life stories that may differ from our own,” said Matthew Olson, director of choral activities. “We are striving to approach works such as #UnitedWeDream with respect and humility, seeking to listen deeply to the life experiences of underrepresented composers and poets, knowing that through their courageous voices, our own perspectives, empathy, and artistry will be transformed.”