By ANDREW POWELL
Published: January 31, 2017
MUNICH — The New York-based League of American Orchestras yesterday issued this statement in response to Executive Order 13769, Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States:
“The music that orchestras play and the communities they serve are global and include people and cultures from [Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen] now subject to the travel ban issued by Executive Order on Jan. 27.
“We firmly believe that concerns related to national security can be addressed while also continuing to welcome people [from] beyond our borders. [We believe] in the power of music to communicate across differences, express and animate the issues of our time, and advance international diplomacy and our democracy.
“With each concert U.S. orchestras perform [at home] and abroad, as many as 100 musicians from diverse traditions, faiths and political perspectives play in unison in the shared pursuit of artistic expression. … In a time of [division] in our country, intentionally listening to the full spectrum of voices is key … . Democracy, like music, flourishes when we encourage … and respectfully engage with a diversity of ideas.”
Separately, the League and the Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP) have jointly created the website Artists from Abroad to help foreign guest artists and their managers navigate the process of obtaining non-immigrant visas and presenting artists from abroad to U.S. audiences. The website will carry guest-artist-related updates to the Jan. 27 Executive Order.
Photo © National Park Service
Related posts:
Chung to Conduct for Trump
Earful of Joy for Trump
Staatsoper Favors Local Fans
Tonhalle Lights Up the Beyond
Kaufmann, Wife Separate