“Music in Context: Exploring Culture Through Performance” is a new, three-show humanities series that the Sacred Heart University Community Theatre will be hosting during its 2026-2027 season.
| Instagram, @shutheatrearts |
Each show will include a post-show talk with the performing artists Sonia De Los Santos on Sept. 19, the Danilo Pérez Trio on Oct. 25 and New Haven Symphony Orchestra on Jan. 31, 2027.
According to Matthew Oestreicher, Executive Director of SHU Community Theatre, events like this series allow students to listen to live music performances and learn about the history of the music through talks with the artists.
“Throughout history, music was really woven into communities and into cultures of something that connected people, was part of important rights and rituals and storytelling and even identity,” said Oestreicher.
Senior Brianna Blackburn and junior Natalie Reade are both a part of the Theater Arts Program and Choir program.
“By going to things like this, it helps broaden your music experience and understanding what types of music there are, and that goes back to performances as well because when you learn more about music, it helps your technique and styles when performing,” said Blackburn.
The series was made possible by the Quick Grant given to SHU Community Theatre from CT Humanities.
“These are three really unique and powerful shows, the first one being a family or kids show, second being a Latin-jazz show and the third being a classical performance,” said Oestreicher.
As for Reade, shows like these provide more insight into the piece.
“You can feel the music deeper, express it in a different way, and sing it with a different tone and feeling, so it is more vibrant or somber depending on what the piece is,” said Reade. “Story is a huge part of music, it allows people to be really immersed in the music as well as the specific notes that they choose to play.”
According to Sara DeRose, Director of Development for the Theatre, one of the thoughts that went into creating this program was giving more access to the community. With the help of a group of community partners, they are able to sell a select number of discount tickets to make them accessible to young audiences.
“We want to have events that help connect the music with these deeper roots so people can leave not only having that experience but understanding where it is the meaning comes from, how did it get created, what are the cultures that created it and how did this artist absorb this tradition or inherit this tradition and express it their own way,” said Oestreicher.
