Great Lakes Center for the Arts to host 'A Conversation with Christo Brand' Oct. 8

BAY HARBOR — On Sunday, Oct. 8, join the artistically collaborative conversation at the Great Lakes Center for the Arts (GLCFA) for a multiple-disciplinary installment in its Distinguished Speaker Series: "A Conversation with Christo Brand: Nelson Mandela, Hope, and Humanity through Stories, Music, and Dance."

Once a Robben Island jailer, Christo Brand was responsible for monitoring Nelson Mandela during his time in prison. During their years together, Brand and Mandela forged a lifelong friendship that continued until Mandela’s passing in 2013.

In his discussion with moderator and Emmy Award-winning independent film producer David Crouse, Brand will expound upon the power of hope that unites us all as members of one human race. He will also share details and anecdotes that recount his time spent with Mandela and touch on topics discussed in his book, “Doing Life with Mandela: My Prisoner, My Friend.”

Preceding this discussion and integrating themes from Brand’s book is a performance by the Crooked Tree Arts Center (CTAC) School of Ballet entitled “Resonance.” Heather Raue, the school’s artistic director, created the choreography with the dancers, which features simultaneous duets representing resilience, adaptability, struggle, growth and love. Student dancers will perform to music by Kronos Quartet and Bashiri Johnson, arranged and produced by Roger Tallman.

"It has been a great privilege to create this atmospheric dance work to introduce Christo Brand,” said Raue. “We are so grateful to the center for inviting us to be a part of this special event."

Following the talk, Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra Chorus (GLCO) Master André Strydom will perform “He Walked to Freedom,” a song by South African composer Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph. Joining Strydom on piano will be percussionist Tim Mocny, and local talents soprano Amy Cross and tenor Brian Horning.

“There are three distinct moods in this song,” said Strydom. “It begins in the minor key describing Mandela's lonely years in prison and South Africa's isolation. The second part is the 'sun coming out' in the major key with the words, ‘And then, He Walked to Freedom.’ The third mood in the music is one of appreciation for the man, his statesmanship, wisdom, and above all, his love for his people and desire for peace.”

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Concluding the afternoon, Brand will be available to sign copies of his book, which will be available for purchase from McLean & Eakin Booksellers.

“The GLCFA is honored and excited to work with the CTAC School of Ballet and the GLCO to add artistic dimension to an already powerful and perpetually relevant community conversation around our shared understanding of hope, resilience, and kindness,” said GLCFA Next Gen Director Rachel Sytsma-Reed. “The stories of Mandela, as shared by Mr. Brand and brought to life through dance and song, offer us a collective insight into all the beautiful potential we can, together, bring to fruition in the story we are writing along this human journey.”

"A Conversation with Christo Brand"begins at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 8 at the Great Lakes Center for the Arts. Tickets are $5 student, $25 general admission and $125 VIP. Tickets can be purchased at greatlakescfa.org or (231) 439-2610.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: GLCFA to host 'A Conversation with Christo Brand' Oct. 8