Princeton University Concerts debuts new digital initiative ‘Sing for Today,’ taps into election with opera star Joyce DiDonato and Kai Tsurumaki ’23

By Dasha Koltunyuk, Princeton University Concerts on Oct. 30, 2020, 4:47 p.m.

Through the lens of song and conversation, Princeton University Concerts’ (PUC) newest digital initiative, “Sing for Today,” debuts online on Friday, Oct. 30. Co-produced by PUC and the University Musical Society of the University of Michigan, the series was conceived by multiple Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano and PUC fan-favorite artist Joyce DiDonato. “Sing for Today” features DiDonato responding to current events and global concerns in a series of short videos.

Joyce DiDonato and Kai Tsurumaki

Princeton University Concerts’ newest digital initiative, “Sing for Today,” debuts on Oct. 30, featuring opera star Joyce DiDonato (left) and Kai Tsurumaki, a member of Princeton's Class of 2023 (right), co-founder of the Poll Hero Project. The series responds to current events and global concerns through song and conversation; the first video taps into the energy of the upcoming general election.

Photos by Simon Pauly (left) and David Kelly Crow

The first segment taps into the energy of the upcoming general election. In response to images of long, early voter-lines across the United States, DiDonato sings “This Land Is Your Land,” accompanied by guitarist Àlex Garrobé in tribute to the passionate voters. She then frames the song with a conversation with “Hamilton” lead producer Jeffrey Seller and two of the student leaders of the Poll Hero Project, Kai Tsurumaki, a member of Princeton’s Class of 2023, and Saika Islam, a member of  the University of Michigan’s Class of 2021. (Tsuramaki was featured in Princeton’s Instagram series #TellUsTigers on Oct. 23.)

All “Sing for Today” episodes are free to view. Watch the first episode online.

Future episodes of “Sing For Today” will feature DiDonato singing and in dialogue with people from a variety of different backgrounds, calling on great songs to permeate profound events of the present day.

Copyright and permissions: “This Land Is Your Land,” words and music by Woody Guthrie, WGP/TRO-© Copyright 1956, 1958, 1970, 1972, and 1995 (copyrights renewed), Woody Guthrie Publications, Inc. & Ludlow Music, Inc., New York, NY, administered by Ludlow Music, Inc. Additional words by Joyce DiDonato. Used by permission. Joyce DiDonato appears by kind permission of Warner Classics/Erato.

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