Child and Family We do this first and foremost for the child and their family. We want this piece to be a gift of music and love for all of time, something that is unique, and significant. We work hard to insure that the performance will be remembered forever, and the music will live on forever for them. At five years old, little Lauren said this after listening to her premiere: “Clark, I’m never going to stop smiling.”
Composers Our composers are selected because of the meaning they bring to the piece. They have an emotional connection that ties together their musical creation and the child. Tim Smisek, composer, wrote this:
“Thanks again for asking me to be a part of this amazing project 🙂 Every time I tell someone about Chase The Music, they tear up… and I do too. So powerful.“
The composers work is then interpreted by a performing group.Performers This music for these performers is often like nothing else they’ve ever played. It was written for a special purpose, and they are acutely aware of the importance of the gift. They pour their hearts into the performances. At the very first Chase the Music performance, the child was introduced to the band – just minutes before the performance was to begin. Half the band was crying for this little girl. I was afraid we’d made a mistake, introducing her at that time. How would the performers pull themselves together? The emotion of what they were doing, and the gravity of the situation actually heightened their skills. They then performed better than they ever had in rehearsal. Christopher “Tofu” Rives, 16, percussionist, said this about the performance: “Music is fueled by emotion, and this is music at its best.“ The first time a Chase the Music piece is experienced is at it’s premiere. Everyone involved with the production is included, and we work to make sure that when possible, the child is able to engage with those that provided her gift. The coordinator, composer and musicians all want to reach out for the child. The performance is also for the general audience, and they are crucial to the event.
Audience The audience at the premiere contribute love and energy to the piece. Their knowledge that they are part of a greater gift, of original music written and performed just for this child, at this moment, is something that really moves people. In return, they take that energy and move it forward. You can literally feel the positive energy and love at a Chase the Music performance.
Future audiences and listeners After you involve the element of time, we are excited about the spread of the music to other performers in other places. After the premiere, the composition is released and will be heard by future audiences and listeners. Sometimes the child’s story will accompany the piece, and other times it will not. It is this gift that leaves an impact much larger and for much longer than we will ever really appreciate. It is impossible to estimate this impact as it happens outside of our control. As part of our ‘pay it forward’ strategy, we provide the gift with no expectation of return.
Impact on donors Donors feel the impact too. They aren’t just making a donation, they are contributing to the building of a timeless gift. Not only a gift for a child, but a gift for humanity, now and future. Donor gifts can be directed, so that they know specifically what song can be attributed to their donation. Donor participation isn’t limited to the financial contribution, but also includes the enjoyment of being able to listen to the piece that their gift made a reality.