Visions of America:
A Photo-Symphony
Concert for America
Visions of America (VOA) is a groundbreaking multimedia celebration of America. Combining the words and philosophies of America's founders with sublime imagery and original symphonic music, VOA presents a compelling visual-musical portrait of Democracy.
The concert is premised upon the question: “How do you photograph an idea (deomcracy)?” The answer unfolds during our concert’s journey through America, where audiences explore the ideas, hopes and dreams that bind us together. In encountering the landscapes, cityscapes, small towns and rituals that define us as a people, our audience realizes that it is this generation of Americans that is the recipient and caretaker of the founders’ Vision of America.
The project is the dream of American history teacher turned photographer-writer-producer, Joseph Sohm. Over 30 years, Sohm has traveled more than one million miles to capture the spirit of America on film. What began as Sohm’s Vision of America, is now a plural pursuit.
Continue to Page 2 for concert photos
Continue to Page 3 for information about
Roger Kellaway and Alan & Marilyn Bergman
Continue to Page 4 for information about
Clint Eastwood • Patti Austin
Continue to Page 5 for the
Philly Pops Premiere Post Rap Party
Sohm launched an earlier version of VOA in Philadelphia for the 1987 Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution and has worked with the State Department, the National Archives and Presidential Inaugural Committee. His images were featured throughout NBC’s television special Concert For America on 9/11/02, which was hosted by Tom Brokaw and attended by President and Mrs. Bush.
The VOA concert experience is Art of the States utilizing State of the Art digital technology. Drawing upon VOA’s vast digital image collection taken from all fifty states over twenty-five years, iconic American images are displayed on a large projection screen that is suspended over the 66-piece symphony orchestra.
Using the latest post-production, special effects and motion-graphics by Burbank, California-based Video Symphony, the images and projected video are digitally choreographed to Mr. Kellaway’s original score.
Contacts:
Joseph Sohm, Project Executive Producer
Visions of America, LLC
10907 Encino Drive • Oak View, CA 93022
805-649-2555 Studio
805-649-1555 Fax
702-493-4345 Cell
joseph@visionsofamerica.com
Joe Sohm and actor/director Clint Eastwood prepare to record audio segments for the Visions of America presentations in-studio in Carmel, California.
Visions of America, LLC (in conjunction with Independence Hall Visitor Center and Philadelphia’s Once Upon a Nation) presents Visions of America – Photographing Democracy (The Inaugural Concert for the People) which premiered January 25 – February 1, 2009, at Kimmel Center-Verizon Hall in Philadelphia. The concert focuses on the wisdom of the Founders who worked to create America just a few short blocks from Kimmel Center.
Visions of America features the talents of
Peter Nero and the Philly Pops® Orchestra;
Oscar nominated and Grammy winning composer-performer-arranger Roger Kellaway;
and Grammy and Academy Award winning lyricists
Alan and Marilyn Bergman.
Vocals are by the legendary Patti Austin
(2008 Grammy award winner).
VOA features a two-act multimedia concert, with Americana Music in Act One. Act Two premieres an original soundtrack by Kellaway and the Bergmans. Structured in three musical movements with thirteen “Mosaics” (visualized songs) and the finale, entitled “We The People,” the concert is visually choreographed to the patriotic imagery of photographer Joseph Sohm.
The VOA concert, coffee table book, DVD, photographic exhibit and collateral materials were designed and overseen by Peter Green Design, a Glendale, California design firm that has worked with many major movie studios in Hollywood. Mr. Green’s corporate clients include Sony, Coca-Cola, McDonalds and many others. As illustrator, Peter’s “Politicards” of both political parties are sold nationwide and were featured on the Tonight Show.
The book features a foreword by legendary travel writer, Paul Theroux; and Charles (Chuck) Tampio holds the position of educational consultant. Chuck is former Vice President of the Close Up Foundation and CEO of Earth Force, both in Washington D.C., and is well known as a national leader in civic education.
The VOA image archive and web site are developed and maintained by Art Director Robert Lloyd, who has worked since 2002 to organize the prodigious digital library of Mr. Sohm's images of America. As a graphic designer, Robert also assisted with production of the Book, and many other projects as well. He is also VOA's systems manager and technical advisor.
