It is in times of crisis that the Arts are found on the front line towards restoring humanity and dignity.
The following are some of the Social Awareness projects in which Mr. Richman has collaborated:
The Paths to Dignity Project
The Paths to Dignity Project was founded by violinist Mitchell Newman and composer Lucas Richman to help forge relationships between music organizations and homeless advocacy agencies for the purpose of bringing humanity and dignity to the unsheltered community through the healing powers of music. Facilitating and producing community engagement activities which involve performances and shared experiences, the PTD Project aspires to eliminate pre-conceived notions surrounding the stigma of being unhoused while also connecting musicians, providers and clients in cities across the United States.
The centerpiece of the PTD Project is a musical composition, entitled Concerto No. 1 for Violin: Paths to Dignity, written by Lucas Richman. The work addresses the individual and collected stories of the unsheltered while underscoring the need of the larger community’s support towards essential services and reintegration.
The Warming Sea
In January 2019, the Maine Science Festival (MSF) commissioned Lucas Richman to craft a new musical work to serve as a catalyst for public awareness and community discussion regarding climate change in the Gulf of Maine and its destructive impact on the eastern seaboard of the United States. The Warming Sea, for women’s chorus, children’s chorus and orchestra, is the result of a rich collaboration between the scientific and artistic communities of Maine. (World premiere: Maine Science Festival; March 19, 2022).
Symphony: This Will Be Our Reply
In celebration of the Leonard Bernstein Centenary (August 25, 2018), Lucas Richman received permission from the Leonard Bernstein Office to create a new work for chorus and orchestra inspired by the speech Maestro Bernstein delivered to the United Jewish Fund two days after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Known as “An Artist’s Response to Violence,” the speech addresses the manner in which musicians might best use their abilities in the aftermath of tragedy:
Symphony of Hope: The Haiti Project
A year after the terrible earthquake which destroyed the lives of thousands of Haitians, it was clear to Lennertz that the need for assistance was greater than ever. In response Lennertz came up with the idea of the “Symphony of Hope”, and invited 25 leading film composers to collaborate with him on a project to benefit the Haiti Earthquake Relief fund.
One Single Voice
One Single Voice is part of an ongoing journey that began with the first songwriting collaboration between Sara Pyszka and Lucas Richman in the summer of 2001. Songs and spoken stories are woven together in such a way as to present Sara’s story of how a vibrant young author negotiates a life impacted by cerebral palsy.