PHOTOS: Broadway Musicians play “La Marseillaise” to Packed Times Square Crowd to Honor Nice Bastille Day Attack Victims
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, July 22, 2016

Press contact:
Christopher Carroll

Laura Dolan
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PHOTOS: “New York Musicians Play for Nice”
Broadway Performers Honor Victims of Bastille Day Attack with Times Square Performance of “La Marseillaise” and “Nissa la Bella”
Large tribute event organized by Nice native calls for courage and community; Composer and Conductor Anton Coppola conducts “La Marseillaisse”

NEW YORK CITY, NY— TIMES SQUARE—Friday, July 22, 2016: A week after the horrific Bastille Day tragedy in Nice, France, Broadway musicians and other NYC professional musicians gathered to play French anthems in Times Square at 5:30PM on Thursday, July 21st.

Under the George M. Cohan statue—a gathering place like Nice’s Promenade des Anglais—over 50 brass musicians currently performing on Broadway and elsewhere in NYC performed French anthems, demonstrating the power of community in public spaces.

The event was envisioned and organized by Broadway trumpeter Dominic Derasse, from Nice, currently playing in An American in Paris, with the support of the Associated Musicians of Greater New York, Local 802, AFM. Derasse, career on Broadway has included performing in over 25 shows. He is also the founder of the FILMharmonic Brass, a seven-piece brass ensemble dedicated to the live performance of music written for film and television, and previously served as President of the NY Chapter and Vice-President of the International Recording Musician’s Association

“Nice, my hometown and a beautiful city filled with wonderful people, was attacked on Bastille Day,” said tribute organizer, Broadway trumpet player and French immigrant Dominic Derasse. “This tragedy was horrific, not only in the manner in which it was carried out and the amount of casualties it inflicted but in how it impacted people across the world. This event is a tribute – to the people of Nice and France – to let them know that there are people across the world who are not only thinking of them, but who want to express their support in their time of grief. La Marseillaise and Nissa La Bella seemed like the best way for the musicians of New York to do exactly that.”

Click here for photos from the performance.
Maestro Anton Coppola conducted the French national anthem “La Marseillaise,” arranged for brass choir by Charles Porter and Dominic conducted “Nissa La Bella,” the hymn of the city of Nice, arranged by Bob Christianson.

“Music bridges cultural and social divides, able to play a powerful role in facilitating international solidarity and healing,” said Tino Gagliardi, president, Associated Musicians of Greater New York Local 802 AFM. “New York City is a capital of the music world because of the unique, diverse and enormously talented musicians that call it home. Our cultural diversity is our strength, and I’m enormously proud to call the musicians that live and work here my colleagues and friends. This event is a reflection of our community’s integrity and compassion, and Dominic Derasse and the musicians that performed today deserve a round of applause. Together, they are sending a resounding message that New York City stands with our friends, colleagues, international brethren in the face of adversity, pain and tragedy.”

State Senator Brad Hoylman said: “As the State Senator who represents Broadway, I’m proud of the Local 802 AFM and the community of professional musicians for their show of support for the people of Nice and all of France. Hopefully, it will provide some source of comfort to those affected by the abominable act of terror in Nice last week.”

“Today, our diverse music community comes together for an important moment of healing and solidarity with the people of Nice,” said Council Member Dan Garodnick. “I applaud those who have orchestrated this artistic expression of compassion and support.”

“New York is the adopted home of people from all over the world, and when unspeakable tragedies happen like the Bastille Day attack, New York mourns with them,” said Council Member Corey Johnson. “I’m filled with pride that some of New York’s finest musicians will be honoring the victims in Nice, France by giving voice to a hurt, but steadfast people in the universal language of music. Thank you to the Local 802 for providing healing in a way that words alone never could.”

About Local 802
Local 802, AFM is the largest local union of professional musicians in the world. Our members include musicians who play on Broadway, at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, and in New York’s top clubs and venues, whose hard work helps keep New York an arts and entertainment capital. We unite to fight for the common interests of all musicians by advancing industry standards that dignify our labor and honor and enrich our art. We seek to organize a community of all musicians and aspiring musicians, and we reach out to all who share our interests and our passion. We are committed to upholding the integrity of live musical performance and to advancing the vital role of music in education, and in the economic, cultural and social life of our community and beyond. We advocate for economic and social justice for musicians and for society as a whole.

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