THERE ARISES LIGHT
Watch this first.
"THE WORLD NEEDS TO HEAR THIS"
There Arises Light premiered at a concert by candlelight in Tulsa, OK. Here's what people had to say about it.
“I thoroughly enjoyed this night of music and light, and want everyone everywhere to experience it.”
- Kelley Owen
"This 40-minute piece is mournful, powerful, quietly devastating, often optimistic, technically impressive, and rhythmically complex—often all in the same phrase."
- Z. B. Reeves, Root
“Barron's composition was so moving. The world needs to see and hear this! BRAVO!!”
- Janice Bamford
With your help, the hopes of these concertgoers can come true.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
This project poses two unique challenges. First, its price tag: $100,000 to produce and promote a world-class recording of this composition.
The second challenge is an accelerated timeline. For greatest impact, There Arises Light needs to be released near the anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre: May 31. For that to happen, the majority of our fundraising goal needs to be met by March of 2024!
But these challenges also mean that there's greater possible benefit than before. A collaborative album with ties to an historic event creates the potential for broader reach. Let's realize that potential!
If you're ready to contribute, click the button:
ROLLING UP OUR SLEEVES
Timeline
TAP HERE to view on mobile.
The Results
Here's what this project can achieve:
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World-class album
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Outstanding videos
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Newsworthy release concert
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Extensive touring schedule
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More composing opportunities
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National press coverage
- Hope in a world filled of sorrow
Results like that will require great effort from me, plus outside expertise:
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Musical collaborators
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Audio engineering and mastering
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Public relations
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Photography + videography
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Graphic design
- Concert production
This is a momentous endeavor that requires significant commitment!
SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY
It's been over three years since I launched my last fundraising campaign. Look at what your support helped achieve since then!
First of Its Kind
Why can't all music get along? As a classical pianist, I was told that some styles don't mix. I wanted to test that theory. So I set out to write classical music that was influenced by my favorite kinds of music, regardless of genre. This album offers evidence that all music can get along.
5 Flats
If you’ve ever enjoyed a well curated wine tasting, you’ll understand the appeal of 5 Flats. I selected ten pieces by ten different composers, all in the same key signature of five flats. The tracks' shared musical base showcases the variety that can be created from the same seven-note musical palette.
Honey, If It Wasn't for You
This is the true story of a song by Don Feagin and me. He wrote the words, and I wrote the music. But this wasn't your average partnership. That's because Don died in 1981—six years before I was even born. Featuring a storybook and song by the same name, this was my debut as an author!
MORE THAN MUSIC
Impact on Others
Spotify Listeners
261,000
Performance Attendees
20,000
Website Visitors
15,953
YouTube Views
373,600
All statistics are from March 31, 2020: the launch of my last fundraising campaign!
Impact on Me
Thanks to you, the last three years have been an immense blessing. People often can't believe that I'm a concert pianist and composer living in Tulsa, OK, and I can scarcely believe it myself! Here are a just some accomplishments since 2020:
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Named one of Ten Innovators to Watch in 2021 by Smithsonian Magazine
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Over 100 performances across the U.S.
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Became a #1 Oklahoma bestselling author
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Feature on CBS Sports' coverage of the PGA Championship
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Joined the Oklahoma Performing Artist Roster
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Didn't quit music on my 35th birthday
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Joined the Recording Academy
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Selected for the Western Arts Alliance Performing Arts Discovery program
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Introductions to world-class musicians (including my collaborators for this project!)
THANKS TO YOU
Dear Friends,
All the achievements you see on this page are a direct consequence of your support. You allowed me to write music, make professional recordings, produce captivating videos, and so much more.
Thank you for enabling me to share my work with the world. I pray that we're only getting started!
Gratefully,
Barron
You make this possible.
FAQs
What are all these cool candlelight concert photos from?
After you enabled me to host an outdoor piano concert at Tulsa's Guthrie Green, the venue's staff started thinking about how to present more classical music. They invited me to produce and feature in their first such concert, and I seized the opportunity to debut There Arises Light (in the Darkness)!
Will you run a Kickstarter campaign this time?
I don't know yet! With such an accelerated timeline, there may not be time to for a Kickstarter campaign this time. So if you're unsure whether to contribute sooner or later, sooner is best!
Who will you record with?
I'll record with two of the finest musicians I've ever had the pleasure to play with: violinist Christopher Whitley and cellist Sterling Elliott.
Chris has a resumé as long as your arm, but that's not why he's playing on this recording. He's my violinist of choice because of his astounding musical sensitivity, his impeccable sense of pitch and rhythm, and his utmost grace as a collaborator. Chris is the first and only violinist to perform My Soul Is Full of Troubles (this composition's first movement), and premiered There Arises Light with me in September of 2023. Read more about Chris at christopherwhitleyviolin.com.
Sterling's accomplishments could also fill a small book. What I'm most excited about is his astonishing musical maturity, his zeal for presenting meaningful music, and his energizing yet calming presence as a artistic partner. Sterling performed My Soul Is Full of Troubles with Chris and me in early 2023 while visiting Tulsa as the substitute cellist for the Thalea String Quartet. Read more about Sterling at sterlingelliott.com.
I'm immensely grateful that Chris and Sterling were not just willing to record with me, but enthusiastic to accept my invitation. With any luck, you'll also see us touring the work together next year and beyond!
Where are you recording?
We'll record at the magnificent Sono Luminus Studios in Boyce, VA. Created by the two founders of Cisco Systems, the studio is housed in a former Episcopal church built in 1916. The studio specializes in classical music, features 25-foot vaulted ceilings, and offers three Steinway grand pianos to choose from. Read more about Sono Luminus at sonoluminus.com.
What are the coolest videos you've made recently?
I'll mention four, and they're all featured in the player below. The first is from my feature on CBS Sports in 2022. Then there's the trailer for my book, a very cool video from my album, First of Its Kind, and an 'overhead' rendition of my "I Want You Back" arrangement.
88 Bunkers, 88 Keys - Video from CBS Sports Coverage of the 2022 PGA Championship
Barron Ryan "Honey, If It Wasn't for You" Book Trailer
Vivace! | Piano Solo by Barron Ryan
I Want You Back OVERHEAD | Piano Cover by Barron Ryan
The debut of There Arises Light in Tulsa, OK.
Christopher Whitley, Sterling Elliott, and me.
The magnificent studio where we'll record.
The debut of There Arises Light in Tulsa, OK.
TALK TO ME
Do you have questions, input, or other ways to help? Please get in touch!
You can also email me at b@barronryan.com.
