Gund Event Celebrates Joy through Music, Culture, and Storytelling

On December 11, Soul Science Lab performed in an all-school event in Werner Centennial Center as part of the annual Graham Gund ’59 Visiting Artist Series, sponsored by the Gund family in honor of Graham Gund, Class of 1959. Kerry Kendall, Head of the Visual and Performing Arts Department and Annual Gund Event Coordinator, introduced the performers and then asked the audience to pause for a moment of silence “in recognition of all that Mr. Gund has done for Westminster” and acknowledged his recent passing.

With a video backdrop, vocalists, and live band, Soul Science Lab took the stage in a dynamic multimedia show called “Make A Joyful Noize” which blended hip-hop, jazz, and soul music, film, poetry, and movement to inspire the audience to celebrate and re-imagine life through a lens of joy. “Make A Joyful Noize” was originally commissioned by Carnegie Hall.

The Brooklyn-based music and multimedia duo of artist educator and creative director Chen Lo and multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer Asante’ Amin immediately engaged with the audience with hip-hop tracks, rhythmic clapping, and chanting lyrics. These artists have released several albums, performed around the world, and shared the stage with renowned artists. Additionally, Chen Lo has led master classes at a number of cultural arts institutions including Jazz at Lincoln Center and Amin is a MetLife Meet the Composer award-winner.

The thematic chapters of the “Make A Joyful Noize” show—including “Tabernacle,” “The Pain,” and “Butterfly”—focused on specific emotions and self-motivating concepts that connected performers with the audience and spread a tangible, uplifting energy throughout the school audience.

The school community thanks Soul Science Lab for sharing their incredible talent, and the Gund family for their generous continued support of cultural life at Westminster.