How a Carnegie Mellon student’s art inspired the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

Carnegie Mellon University sophomore Quinn Bryant’s paintings served as the muse for a new Baltimore Symphony Orchestra masterpiece. 

In a remarkable fusion of visual and auditory arts, Carnegie Mellon University sophomore Quinn Bryant’s paintings have become the muse for an orchestral masterpiece. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra‘s 2023-24 season finale in June 2024 featured the world premiere of “Captivating Personas,” a four-part orchestral piece composed by James Lee III, directly inspired by Bryant’s canvases.

A Meeting of minds and mediums

According to an August 27 news release from Carnegie Mellone University, Quinn Bryant, a student in CMU’s School of Art, caught the attention of composer James Lee III with her monumental painting “Power.”

This 5-by-8-foot canvas reimagines the roles of women in shaping history, depicting 13 diverse women in a setting inspired by 18th-century European interiors. Bryant’s work, which took two years to complete, blends historical research with contemporary perspectives on feminism, identity, and cultural representation.

Lee, an internationally recognized composer and professor at Morgan State University, took on the challenge of translating Bryant’s visual narratives into musical compositions. His approach involved careful consideration of how to merge classical and modern elements without resorting to clichés or imitation.

From canvas to concert hall

The collaboration resulted in “Captivating Personas,” a four-movement orchestral piece that brings Bryant’s paintings to life through sound:

1. “Power”: Rich in brass, with highlights from piccolo and clarinet.
2. “Attitude”: A lighter tone featuring marimbas and trombones.
3. “Bored Comfort”: An expressive movement dominated by strings, harps, and chimes.
4. “Breath of the Victorian Scape”: A triumphant, celebratory finale.

During performances, Bryant’s paintings were projected on screens, allowing audiences to experience the visual and auditory elements simultaneously. This multisensory approach created powerful connections with viewers, as exemplified by a Black woman who related deeply to the representation in “Attitude.”

The project not only showcases the talent of a promising young artist but also demonstrates the potential for cross-disciplinary collaboration in the arts. For Bryant, this experience at Carnegie Mellon has reinforced the idea that artistic boundaries are meant to be crossed, leading to unexpected and powerful results.

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This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

This story was generated in part by AI and edited by The Keystone staff.