Welcome to Vijay Gupta
Boston, Massachusetts
Former violinist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Founder of Street Symphony, and a 2018 MacArthur Genius Fellow, Vijay Gupta is a critically acclaimed and powerful advocate for the arts. His guidance over the past month has been absolutely integral to the growth of Lyrica Boston Inc. His inspiring ideals of using music and art as a conduit for social change has truly enhanced the vision of Lyrica. We are thrilled to announce that Mr. Gupta has recently agreed to partner with Lyrica Boston as our Chief Artistic Advisor. He was truly inspired by our projects and the work we have done thus far.
Through our meetings, we have felt a symbiotic connection— it is clear that we hold the same dreams about building a healthy and resilient network of artists which provides them with all the necessary materials and audiences to express their voices. Over the next few years, Mr. Gupta is planning to help illuminate different methods that he has cultivated over his own career in order to guide us to our goals of becoming a more effective advocate for the musical world. From the past, present, and future, we know that there is a lot to gain from his mentorship and the tools he has already provided.
However, his exciting announcement couldn’t have been made without you. We have been so thankful for our current community of neighbors thus far —LyricaFest could simply not exist if it wasn’t for our surrounding community. Our neighbors up and down our streets took in our students variously to board, host ensembles for coaching, daily rehearsals, and individual practice and many bring a meal or an individual dish for 30 students and or offer to help cook with us during Lyricafest. Now, you continually show your support through sending notes of encouragement and excitement for our new projects. The enthusiastic responses we get from our friends and patrons shine a bright light onto our future.
“In the face of all that is broken, we are the laborers of wholeness”
—Vijay Gupta The 33rd Annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts & Public Policy
Our first big project this year was Music Grams, which we unveiled last month. Many communities have already been fragmented due to the effects of COVID-19 and the pressure it places on the health, happiness, and financial wellbeing of the most vulnerable populations. In order to help these communities continue to foster a place for the performing arts, we have decided to dedicate ourselves to performing for these neighbors free of charge. Two upcoming socially-distanced performances will be held in the gardens of the Cambridge and Boston Homes. In addition to these free live performances, we are also providing the option for our community to order Virtual Music Grams in the case that they would be unable to host a concert safely. In October, we will be premiering excerpts of our performances online to be viewed free of charge, for anyone. Too often the performing arts are categorized as privileges— on the contrary, they are essential facets of the human existence. They possess the power to reunite and reinvigorate our community and we truly hope that we can play a supporting role to this anthem.
“The work of the artist and the citizen is one: to model the practices in our smaller every day actions the world we long to live in.”
—Vijay Gupta The 33rd Annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts & Public Policy
Another way in which we are immediately enacting social change is by meticulously constructing concerts based around local musicians, visual artists, and writers. The inaugural concert will be Sunday October 18th, at 5pm. These concerts will give a unique platform for artist’s voices while simultaneously creating an enriching experience for the orchestra, soloist, and audience. The orchestra will benefit by experiencing an entirely new perspective and will refresh their repertoire, the soloist will gain access to an entirely new audience and connections to further share their art, and the audience will gain a completely new source of knowledge and expression which will be perpetually be refreshed in each set.
“Listening is one sure act of love.”
—Vijay Gupta The 33rd Annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts & Public Policy
Our long term goal has been expanded as well. In reflection of our work in Syracuse, NY, we were inspired with the idea of creating our own space for our ensembles and soloists to rehearse and nurture their work. As we did in Syracuse, our long term goal is to repurpose spaces and work with local businesses in order to provide safe spaces for artists to cultivate their work without the pressures of making rent as we have already done in Syracuse. While this program will not be instated immediately, it is a clear goal that we are aiming to achieve within the next decade.
With Mr. Gupta on board and you, our audience by our side, we feel no hesitation to continue this mission of infusing the arts and community together. We know the hard work which lay ahead, but we are equally as certain that we will commit ourselves to making it happen.
Sincerely,
Laura Bossert, Terry King, and Leah Froyd
