The Akron Symphony is proud to announce the release of three live recordings of music by Akron composer Julia Perry, including the world premiere of Frammenti dalle lettere di Santa Caterina (Fragments from the Letters of Saint Catherine).
These recordings are part of the Akron Symphony’s Julia Perry Project, which, together with the African Diaspora Music Project, seeks to promote publishing, performance, research and recording of Julia Perry’s music.
“The vast majority of Julia Perry’s music is completely unknown. Even among people steeped in our rarefied field, most don’t know her music,” shared ASO Music Director Christopher Wilkins. “No current project is timelier than our effort to make her music known throughout the world. Hers is an Akron story through and through. Raised, educated, celebrated, supported—and ultimately ignored—in Akron, it is likely that no more important figure in classical music has ever emerged from this city.”
Most of Perry’s hundred-plus works have not been published, and few of her works have been recorded. Only a smattering of performances are available on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Music, and the pieces that have been performed or recorded are only those that have been published, which is a total of about 18 works.
“Julia Perry deserves to be celebrated and remembered. We hope that these recordings will help shine a light on her music and inspire more people to explore her extraordinary body of work,” said Wilkins.
The recordings were captured by recording engineer Steve M. Savanyu and edited by Akron Symphony Music Director Christopher Wilkins in post-production. They are now available for streaming on Spotify and Apple Music.
Get more information about the Julia Perry Project, including how to access the live recordings.