Mother of Exiles

Mother of Exiles
A new choral arrangement of the poem inscribed on the Statue of Liberty is being developed for performance by Oregon composer Theresa Koon in collaboration with PARMA Recordings. An experienced opera and choral composer, Theresa Koon's work often focuses on issues of public concert--from the effects of oceanic missile testing on whales, to explorations of Sufi mystic poetry.  The mission behind the Mother of Exiles Project is to use music to help raise awareness about the complex issues surrounding immigration and the needs of asylum seekers world-wide.   

Theresa Koon's musical adaptation of Emma Lazarus' famous poem, ("Give me your tired, your poor...") climaxes in a multi-language appeal to the  "mother of exiles". The music you hear in the accompanying video is a sampled excerpt from the 4-minute score.  This piece for SATB choir is intended to provide a mouthpiece for the cause of immigrants' rights globally. 

Mother of Exiles will be recorded by the Kühn Choir in Prague, Czeck Republic, and released by PARMA Recordings in Spring 2020.  This process includes recording, editing, mixing and mastering the original audio, as well as creating an excerpt video for use in promoting this music.  PARMA will distribute the finished recording to radio stations, music reviewers and online connections around the world.  The total cost of these services is $12,000, of which $4,450 has already been paid.  This 90-day Fractured Atlas crowdfunding campaign seeks to raise $7,550, all of which will be used to cover the remaining fees to PARMA Recordings.  The longer term General Support Campaign will help raise funds to cover ongoing expenses related to promoting and rehearsing performances of Mother of Exiles.  Donations to either campaign are tax-deductible.

With your help, Mother of Exiles will be distributed and performed internationally as a humanitarian anthem by organizations, university choirs, rallies and causes seeking to improve the lives of immigrants.

"Based on the quality of the music, its artistry, and its humanitarian inspiration, we feel this project presents precisely the type of artistic merit which PARMA strives to represent."--PARMA Recordings

Contact Theresa Koon:
For score, audio and/or text files,
Email:  tikkun.voice@gmail.com
Phone:  503-239-8524

 To hear other works by the composer, visit: Additional Scores