A spokesperson says---
“...sparksLIVE 2026 – an annual captivating series of live events showcasing exceptional art song performances, world premiere commissions, and programming that addresses socially-relevant issues…
...parksLIVE 2026 kicks off with The Invisible Man on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. Featuring world-renowned American vocalist Stephanie Blythe, together with pianist Ryan MacEvoy McCullough, The Invisible Man presents world premiere arrangements by McCullough in celebration of the life and work of songwriter Harry Warren. With compositions spanning over six decades, beginning in 1918, the program showcases a selection of Warren’s works from the American Songbook, highlighting his collaborations with many of the great lyricists of the day, including Al Dubin, Mack Gordon, and Johnny Mercer.
The following evening, on Friday, February 20, 2026, at 7:30 p.m., sparksLIVE features the world premiere of The Song Blanket, commissioned by Sparks & Wiry Cries. Georgian Bay Métis artist and Citizen of the Métis Nation of Ontario, Rebecca Hass (Nitaawe Giizhigok – Singing Sky Woman), carries the legacy of her grandmother’s quilts. In The Song Blanket, Rebecca gives voice to an old woman searching for what has been forgotten, using traditional teachings and cultural wisdom carried in the legacy of her grandmother’s storytelling, and embodied in her quilts. The performance also features vocalists Lucy Shelton, Kamala Sankaram, Kate Morton, and pianist Erika Switzer.
The series concludes on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. with a special tenth anniversary edition of the songSLAM – Sparks & Wiry Cries’s flagship event that continues to expand its global reach. The songSLAM event features 15 teams made up of composers, singers, and pianists premiering songs for a voting audience, concluding with a performance by the 2025 songSLAM Commission Prizewinner, Joshua Bornfield.
Fashioned after traditional poetry slams and storytelling events like The Moth, Sparks & Wiry Cries’s songSLAMs give teams of composers and performers a chance to present world premieres of art songs and compete for audience-awarded cash prizes totaling up to $2,000. With the success of the last five years’ added virtual component, Sparks & Wiry Cries will once again incorporate both recorded and live elements into the 2026 NYC songSLAM event, where all 15 songSLAM teams will perform..."
