San Francisco Bay Area's 21V choral ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Martín Benvenuto, presents What Comes After, a multidisciplinary collaboration with Rowena Chiu and Rev. Ajung Sojwal of All Saints Episcopal Church Palo Alto on Friday, April 3rd at 7:00 p.m.
Anchored in the Seven Last Words of Christ, the event unfolds through seven emotional pillars – Abandonment, Suffering, Forgiveness, Solidarity, Trust, Resolution, and Hope – illuminating stories of abuse and resilience while claiming resurrection as a call to collective transformation. What Comes After is conceived as a fully integrated artistic structure in which treble choral works, liturgical elements, and guided dialogue are interwoven to explore the question: where do we go from here?
21V’s unique treble sound of soprano and alto voices of all genders will weave a tapestry of 21st-century music, including:
- The world premiere of Robin Estrada’s "Be Heard, Be Seen, Be Found”, a commissioned triple-choir work setting the composer’s own text on identity, truth, and becoming whole.
- "Anna Tawaqu" by Juan Stafforini; inspired by the musicality of words in the Aymara language, it depicts a fictional character who embodies feminine and youthful energy who breaks historical cycles.
- Craig Hella Johnson’s reimagining of Dolly Parton’s “Light of a Clear Blue Morning”, offering a moment of resilience and forward-thinking hope.