Author: Bill Lord, Executive Director

We are most grateful to have received a grant from The Puffin Foundation. Funds from this grant will be applied toward supporting this year’s Frederick Circle of Musical Unity Project.

https://youtu.be/jmfMlypS09M
This first video in our series explores how money frequently plays a devastating role in tearing apart bands, new and established. We continue our feature of the new sE NEOM USB mic as part of ‘Mic Talk Time.’

Check out Episode 27 of ‘From A To Global Z.‘
https://youtu.be/EbX6QDahzZU
Announcing the launch of a new mini-series that explores why bands break up and how to prevent such trauma from occurring. Also, a quick introduction to sE Electronics’ new NEOM USB microphone.

I am truly saddened that I feel a need to write this post. The invasion of Ukraine and the devastation war brings is the kind of event our organization is designed – in our own small way – to help prevent or perhaps provide a post-event means of healing. There can be no excuse for the recent invasion of Ukraine and Russia’s reckless indiscriminate and intentional destruction of infrastructure, services, and the targeting of civilian lives. Understandably, Ukraine has been forced into a position where they must defend themselves militarily. More than one month into the invasion and where do things stand? Thousands of Ukrainian and Russian soldiers’ lives are gone, thousands more have been irreversibly maimed or injured. These are dads, sons, brothers, husbands, grandfathers, uncles, and best friends who are now gone from those who love them. As of date, 1,000 civilian men, women and children have died. Millions of civilians have been displaced and millions more wonder if they will wake up every morning. Homes and possessions obliterated. It is a challenge to meet the basic human needs of many on a daily basis. Children experience all levels of unfathomable horror. The psychological damage alone will be a traumatic burden they will carry throughout their lifetime. This war must end. Have we as human beings become so ideologically polarized, so entrenched in our personal ambitions that we are willing to literally destroy the lives of others to get what we want? This is not the way. We belong to the same family, we are all related. Dignity, respect, understanding, and compromise must be exercised to achieve a best and most beneficial result for all. Put down your missiles and bombs, stop the killing, and find a solution through dialogue. For our part, we will continue to bring people of difference together through the creation of music while celebrating the many differences that make each of us who we are. Together, this blending of individual identities is capable of creating something magical – beautiful and impactful music and cross-cultural friendships. The magic of music builds a bridge that stretches across politics, geographical spaces, religious beliefs, culture, and color. It has the ability to bring people of difference together like nothing else I have ever experienced. So let the war end and the healing begin for the sake of the people of Ukraine, Russia, and all of mankind. From my personal lens, I wish you peace through music.
#music#love#people#culture#respect#peace#ukraine#russia#dignity

Episode 26 – ‘Remote Recording: Did COVID Spark A New Wave of Invention?’ is posted for review! The video explores a wide range of remote audio recording and collaboration technologies that are available and see – if in fact – necessity is the mother of invention. For “Mic Talk Time,” we give a listen to a small mic exported out of Sweden from a small operation – Line Audio Design’s CM4.
https://youtu.be/uxhMzDymixY

It is that time of year! We are proud to present our letter of achievements for a highly productive year 🙂

• 

Maryland Humanities has issued a SHARP Grant to Global Z. This grant is part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). We are most grateful to Maryland Humanities and the NEH for the distribution of these funds.

The Delaplaine Foundation has graciously provided Global Z with a grant to apply toward our Frederick Circle of Musical Unity Project (FCoMU). FCoMU applies our virtual student musician production model, but applies it towards projects focused on the local community of Frederick County. We are scheduled to launch our first annual FCoMU project by the summer of 2022. Stand by for more info!

Calling all North American Indigenous student musicians and songwriters! We are now accepting song submissions which will be considered for our North American Indigenous Music Project. The submission deadline is January 15, 2022. Once a song is selected, we will put out a call to student musicians to audition for the project. For more information, please visit our project web page.

Per our recent Press Release, “The Global Z Recording Project is pleased to announce that it has launched a project of historic importance to all Marylanders titled, ‘Living and Dying With COVID-19: The Maryland Stories.” We have partnered with 15 libraries across the state of Maryland. With funding provided by Maryland Humanities, we purchased, tested, installed, delivered, and trained library staff on the use of audio production equipment. Marylanders may visit participating libraries and record personal stories of how COVID-19 has impacted and continues to impact their lives. Their voices and stories will become part of the Enoch Pratt Free Library’s Digital Maryland and Maryland State Archives collections where they will be available to benefit all of mankind. In addition, feature stories will be distributed with the assistance of National Public Radio flagship station, WYPR. Special thanks to our pilot partner, the wonderful staff at Urbana Regional Library.

PARTICIPATING LIBRARIES

• Caroline County Public Library – Central Branch Denton
• Dorchester County Public Library – Cambridge Branch
• Frederick County – C. Burr Artz Library
• Frederick County – Urbana Regional Library (pilot partner)
• Garrett County – The Ruth Enlow Library
• Howard County Library – Glenwood Branch
• Montgomery County Public Libraries – Aspen Hill Library
• Montgomery County Public Libraries – Davis Library
• Queen Anne’s County Library – Centreville Branch
• Somerset County – Princess Anne Library
• St. Mary’s County Library
• Talbot County Free Library – Main Library
• Washington County Free Library – Central Branch
• Wicomico Public Library – Pittsville
• Worcester County Library – Ocean City