The pianist jammed on the Steinway with such force, he stood up to play it. The rest of the orchestra swayed with the Songs of Solomon and Wadleigh High School choirs onstage at Carnegie Hall, singing a student composition about outcasts seeking change and second chances.
But “A Time Like This: Music for Change” wasn’t just a concert Sunday. It honored the creative input of justice-impacted youth, on stage and behind the scenes, as New Yorkers of all ages performed civil rights-inspired songs alongside established artists.
“This is ground zero for the next biggest reform for our justice system,” said Create Justice participant Hasan Davis. “It’s going to be an art attack.”
Create Justice, a national initiative to advance juvenile justice reform through the arts, is a collaboration between Los Angeles-based Arts for Incarcerated Youth Network (AIYN) and Carnegie Hall. It hosts a forum, its third and final one, today and Tuesday.