The Conductor’s Audacious Dream: Building an Orchestra from Scratch

Sprach Zarathustra

Ron Davis Álvarez, a Venezuelan conductor, was visiting Sweden when he witnessed the influx of refugees arriving by train. He saw their exhaustion, desperation, and need for a new home. This sparked an idea: the Dream Orchestra. This wasn’t your typical youth orchestra. It focused on older teenagers, many with no musical background, who had … Read more

Mariska Hargitay reflects on overcoming trauma, revealing personal experience of sexual assault in her 30s in a powerful essay

Mariska Hargitay

In a deeply personal essay, Mariska Hargitay, renowned for her role in “Law & Order: SVU,” bravely shared her experience of sexual assault, highlighting her journey of resilience and advocacy. Decades after the traumatic incident, the actress and founder of the Joyful Heart Foundation revealed her determination not to let the assault define her. Opening … Read more