Full House! Photos & Letters from Defiant

Photography by Adrienne Metzinger

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It was truly an honor to stand with you all last night. Thank you for including me in this powerful program. Thank you for all the work you put into creating a space of purpose, passion and connection through music. –S.H.

Thank you so much for your loving message. Our Choir members and friends in the audience all enjoyed the concert immensely...it was a privilege and a joy to be part of it. Thanks for including us. The core beliefs of One World Symphony and our Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center could not be more aligned. May you continue to make beautiful music and inspire New York with your vision of One World! –S.V.

What a wonderful message to follow a fantastic performance. We are so honored to receive One World Symphony’s support and attention, and we stand with you in the mission to connect and unite the world through compassionate civic action. We look forward to future engagement with the One World Symphony and send you our best wishes for your ongoing productions. –A.B.J.

Just a quick note of thanks for including me in such a memorable and powerful experience Sunday night. It is a joy to perform with you; I especially love your personal touch to each and every concert. You and One World make music so much more accessible when you talk about the different ways that music has reached you and how family and friends are a true extension of your musical life. Keep me posted on your next endeavor. I have passed along the SAVI website to several friends of mine. Please give Adrienne my best — she is a great leader and manager. –M.G.

Thank you very much for the lovely message you sent to all of us. It means a lot.

I really enjoyed the concert and it was great seeing in one night so many different performers, everyone sharing the same message in its own unique way — protect and taking care of each other and no matter what around us remain compassionate human beings.

"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." I believe in this.

It was nice to be back and play with One World Symphony. Looking forward to some of the other performances for worthy causes you and Adrienne have in mind... – A.T.

I just wanted to thank you for including me in part of the Defiant program. It was a very special experience for me and a poignant message at a much needed time. To use music to speak in such a way is largely why we are given the gift of music. I was very moved by your piece and actually cried while I was playing thinking...

The whole theme of the concert was wonderiful and the opening song set a perfect mood. As someone who had also played gamelan and listens to Carnatic violin music sufi music and new music I appreciated a program that was diverse and addressed issues with such passion, The orchestra were involved musically emotionally politically and on an ethical level, I know the audience were very touched and motivated too. – J.G.

Thank you for letting me perform in the wonderful experience that took place tonight. You are a true artist and took me through an emotional ride with the entire program, especially the Beethoven and your own work. Tonight's program allowed me to think and reflect on many issues that were brought up and I thank you for that. – V.K.

Thank you so much for letting me be a part of this concert. I really enjoyed playing with this group and your piece was incredible. I wasn't able to attend any marches on Saturday but was still able to feel like I was participating in another form of protest and defiance by playing this show. Thank you for putting together such a wonderful program. – E.R.

It was an honor to be a part of your program last night. Speaking Michelle Obama's words was a powerful experience for me, and I thank you for trusting me to do it justice. I certainly felt connected to you, the orchestra, the other orators, the audience, and the cause itself. Keep up the good work! The world needs you and One World Symphony, now more than ever. –A.W.

I just wanted to thank you so much for having me part of One World's Defiant concert. It was such a special concert and I simply loved your composition. I was wondering if there was any plan of recording that piece? If so, I want in! It was truly so moving! – R.A.

I brought a friend to the Defiant gathering. Regret not being able to speak with you after the performance, you were busy and we had to leave since my friend had a long subway ride ahead.

It was a Remarkable evening, filled with raw emotion and commitment. Exciting and challenging to all.

Especially liked the World Premiere of your "Defiant" (tone poem the right description?) It is a fine piece of music... I liked it very much and hope to hear it again soon somewhere, sometime.

It, too, was a moving presentation, the audio and video added a real punch in the gut. The Indian performers were a delightful surprise—a Nice way to kick off the evening.

Rob Adler's guitar offering was filled with peace and very settling to any emotionally strained souls present. He is a talented fellow.

The orators and singers were the usual OWS top performers, all in good voice and emotion. I came to the evening blissfully ignorant of the subject and eager to be surprised and moved. I was not disappointed. D.R.