On Pentecost Sunday last year, Belmonter and clarinetist Emily Bowland was deeply moved by Jerome Del Pino’s prayer following the death of George Floyd. As a result, she commissioned Nashville based composer, Dave Ragland, to write a two-movement piece for solo clarinet and spoken word using Jerome’s prayer. The second movement will reflect joy for the future and use text written by the 2021 Nashville Youth Poet Laureate, Marie Shields. The piece will premiere via Facebook live on June 18 at 12:00pm on the Virtual Chamber Music Series given by the contemporary chamber music group, Chatterbird.

Each piece in this series will highlight a local social justice organization. The series was implemented to provide a healing outlet for Chatterbird musicians, giving them the chance to create performances that focus on themes, subject matter, and emotions experienced in the wake of the pandemic and social unrest.

If you would like to make a financial contribution to support this commission and bring this setting of Jerome's prayer to the larger community, you may send a check made out to Belmont UMC with "Commissioned Piece" in the subject line or you may make an online by clicking here.

Keep an eye out in Belmont UMC's newsletter and on social media for more information and a link to the premiere in June. You can also download the Music Commission details document for more information.

Photo: Pictured from left to right: Dave Ragland, Adebiyi Ojutiku, Marie Shields, Emily Bowland, Jerome Del Pino, Benjamin Smith (of Southern Word)