History of Songs of the Spirit

With religious violence and extremist rhetoric on the rise throughout the world, popular perceptions of faith and culture continue to become more dangerously polarized and distorted. As a unifying voice amidst the conflict and confusion, the international performing arts community can be a deeply inspirational force for clarity, fellowship and healing. Songs of the Spirit provides an important forum for prominent artists, interfaith leaders and others to deliver positive messages about the common goals and ideals shared by people of all faiths and cultures.

The genesis of Songs of the Spirit lies in another multicultural, interfaith concert co-produced by music veterans Brian Young and Jonathan Secor: The Candlelight Concert of Remembrance and Hope, presented at New York City's Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine on the first anniversary of the September 11 attacks.  That evening, a group of performers, interfaith leaders and others representing a wide range of musical and spiritual traditions came together before a capacity audience of 2,400 for a night of music, readings and prayer. The program included performances by Joan Osborne, Richie Havens, Sussan Deyhim, DJ Spooky, Jason Robert Brown, Pharaoh's Daughter, Eileen Ivers, Joanie Madden, Darius DeHaas, the Bang on a Can All-Stars, and others.  The impact of that event inspired the development of the Songs of the Spirit concert series, created and directed by Young and Secor as a vehicle for the promotion of interfaith and intercultural unity through music.

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