Terence Blanchard’s Open Letter Announcing New Campaign for “Champion: An Opera in Jazz” Sound Recording
“Champion: An Opera in Jazz”
Sound Recording
To All My Fans,
I am so thrilled to announce the launch of my IndieGoGo campaign to raise funds for the live recording of my very first opera, Champion: An Opera in Jazz.
The opera tells the true, life story of boxing champion Emile Griffith who searches for redemption after killing his opponent in the ring and denying his true sexuality. As some of you may know, the opera premiered at Opera Theatre St. Louis in June 2013 to rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. Most recently, the opera has been nominated for a number of prestigious awards, namely the 2014 International Opera Awards for best ‘World Premiere!’
Due to the mass acclaim and requests by other opera companies to present Champion, the obvious next step is to record Champion with the original cast. This is where you guys come in! I am asking for your help in making the recording session become a reality. This recording is integral to the preservation and dissemination of this groundbreaking work, the first to combine jazz and opera since George Gershwin’s Porgy & Bess.
In exchange for your contributions, I am offering a number of great perks, like copies of the Champion album, Terence Blanchard t-shirts, VIP concert tickets in various cities, and even a chance to take a private trumpet lesson with me! Want to help but can’t contribute? No problem! Sharing the campaign with friends and family and on social media is vital to broadening Champion’s impact. Additionally, I will be relying on your feedback throughout this process to ensure the final product is the best it can possibly be.
Please visit Terence Blanchard’s Champion: An Opera in Jazz Sound Recording at igg.me/at/ChampionRecording to learn more, to contribute, or to spread word about the campaign!
A very special thank you,
Terence