The Opening Doors Project

06/13/2024

Beautiful show and conversation with Vance Gilbert last weekend. Watch the video at https://www.openingdoorsproject.net/concert-series.

Thanks to Paul Locke for photos!

05/21/2024

What a magical night on Saturday at Melrose Unitarian Universalist Church with The Opening Doors Project. Our celebration of AAPI Heritage Month featured Anand Nayak, Anju, and Michael Dwan Singh in a show called "Desi Roots, Boston Branches." It was their first time ever playing all together and they totally killed it! Great music, great conversation.

You can watch the full video of the performance at https://youtu.be/AxAFwp5Zw-s.

More at https://openingdoorsproject.net.

05/06/2024

On Saturday, May 18, in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, The Opening Doors Project is thrilled to present "Desi Root, Boston Branches." And lucky me, I get to host these three incredible musicians for an evening of concert + conversation!

Reserve your FREE spot at: https://www.openingdoorsproject.net/concert-series/

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Anand Nayak is a Grammy-nominated producer, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and longtime guitarist for the beloved American roots band, Rani Arbo and Daisy Mayhem. Anju is a transcendent, fast-rising singer-songwriter and member of The Passim Folk Collective. Michael Dwan Singh is a seasoned musician and stage actor, and one of very few sarangi players in the U.S. – an instrument he plays regularly with his band, The Shadow Notes.

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The Opening Doors Project is a small organization with a big mission to amplify voices of color and advance conversations about race through the arts.

This concert is made possible by the support of Melrose Unitarian Universalist Church, Club Passim Iguana Fund, Melrose Cultural Council, Melrose Messina Fund for the Arts, Mass Cultural Council, Melrose Rotary Club, Filmmakers Collaborative, and donations from our audience... Thank you!

01/20/2024

09/06/2023

Wednesday, September 27! All ages evening community concert plus in-school workshop for Melrose teens.

On Wednesday, September 27, I'm thrilled to be hosting artist-activist, rapper, and classically-trained vocalist Zakiyyah for a FREE community concert in Melrose, MA with The Opening Doors Project.

In addition to her evening show for all ages, Zakiyyah will be presenting an in-school version of her arts-activism workshop for Melrose teens entitled “Creative Revolution.”

More info and free reservations (required) at https://www.openingdoorsproject.net/live-events/

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Artist-activist Zakiyyah has crafted a unique sound she calls “Hip-Hopera.” Her upcoming album, “African Import,” provides a window into both the beauty and complexity of the black diaspora, and the significance of its consumption by mainstream society. Her live performances are fierce, inclusive, and uplifting.

After graduating from Wellesley College with a degree in political science and sociology, Zakiyyah Sutton worked in politics for City Councilor Tito Jackson and later Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins. She currently serves as a trustee for the Free for All Concert Fund, an organization that helps bring classical music to new audiences, and teaches voice through Harvard’s Holden Voice Program and the Hamilton Garrett Music and Arts Academy.

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The Opening Doors Project is a small organization with a big mission to amplify voices of color and advance conversations about race through the arts.

This concert is presented in partnership with the Melrose Education Foundation and is also made possible by Melrose Cultural Council, Mass Cultural Council, Melrose Coop Foundation, Melrose Messina Fund for the Arts, the Club Passim Iguana Fund, and Filmmakers Collaborative.

05/18/2023

This Sunday afternoon, The Opening Doors Project presents Sol y Canto with host Alastair Moock and special guest Anand Nayak for a FREE bilingual all-ages family show and conversation!

Reserve your spot at https://www.openingdoorsproject.net/live-events/.

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The Opening Doors Project is a small organization with a big mission to amplify voices of color and advance conversations about race through the arts.

Thank you to our generous sponsors for this show: Mass Cultural Council, Melrose Coop Foundation, Club Passim Iguana Fund, Filmmakers Collaborative, and Temple Beth Shalom Melrose

12/20/2022

Thanks to Club Passim for supporting Opening Doors!!

Thanks so much to the Club Passim Iguana Fund for supporting “Opening Doors: Race, Conversation, and Song.”

With their help, our next FREE live event features a performance and conversation with Pamela Means on Fri 1/13 in Melrose, MA.

https://openingdoorsproject.net

09/13/2022

New trailer for "Race and Song: A Musical Conversation"!

Veteran musicians and storytelling troubadours Reggie Harris and Alastair Moock rely on their years old friendship to discuss complicated issues of race, class, gender, and history with intentionality and generosity of spirit. Together in musical conversation, they open up to each other and frame their lived experiences through music (which always helps the medicine go down!) and the use of historical and family photos.

Programs are available for all ages and venues, both in-person and virtually.

More info at https://openingdoorsproject.net/workshops.

06/10/2022

Tomorrow (Saturday) at 3pm in Melrose, MA!

FREE registration at https://openingdoorsproject.net/live-events/.

Bring a blanket!

05/06/2022

7:30pm TONIGHT with Kemp Harris! Join us live at Melrose Unitarian Universalist Church or by Zoom at https://uuma.zoom.us/j/98039574632.

https://openingdoorsproject.net/live-events.

02/18/2022

Check out our new trailer video featuring Dom Flemons (Carolina Chocolate Drops), Rissi Palmer, Vance Gilbert, Dan & Claudia Zanes, Kelly Hall-Tompkins Violinist, Pamela Means, and Briar & Joe Seamons with host Alastair Moock Music!

https://www.openingdoorsproject.net

02/16/2022

Check out the new website!

https://www.openingdoorsproject.net/

The Opening Doors Project is a volunteer organization with a nonprofit mission to amplify voices of color and advance conversations about race through the arts. Check out a trailer of our online interview series and come join our next live event on Saturday, June 11 in Melrose, Massachusetts! Watch....