Blackbird Music Project

founded by music director benjamin makino in 2003, the blackbird music project is dedicated to illuminating the unexplored corners of classical music through performance and educational outreach and presenting accessible performances of challenging works. in october 2010, the bmp collaborated with artist/photographer jeff lefever in a multimedia production of arnold schoenberg’s pierrot lunaire at the orange county high school of the arts. during the performance a series of images inspired by schoenberg’s music were projected on two screens on either side of the performers. beginning with the pierrot project, the blackbird music project expanded its educational outreach program to include free tickets for high school students, and free educational materials on the works performed on each concert. 2011 also marked the inauguration of a series of master classes taught by international singers. in february, mezzo-soprano dolores ziegler led a class with students from california state univ