Cultural Exchange Core Value of Siemens Artists-In-Residence Program
Hoboken, N.J., October 7, 2002 - Tonight, the New Juilliard Ensemble will debut Hearing Solution, a classical, musical composition by Uzbek composer Dmitri Yanov-Yanovsky. Yanov-Yanovsky is the first international composer to participate in Siemens Corporation's Artists-In-Residence program, an extension of the company's sponsorship of the Silk Road. Tonight's performance, at the DeBaun Auditorium of Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, represents the first successful completion of a composition created under this program.
The Siemens Artists-In-Residence program awards residencies to six composers from European and Asian countries who will live for two months with a Siemens host family, while creating a composition in a specially designed studio located at one of the many United States Siemens facilities. Each artist's composition will reflect his or her experience with American industry. Hearing Solution musically conveys the process of losing hearing and then regaining it.
Dmitri Yanov-Yanovsky, a composer of stage, orchestral, chamber, vocal and electroacoustic works, from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, has been creating his music in a studio at the Siemens Hearing Solutions facility in Piscataway, New Jersey. During his time with Siemens, Yanov-Yanovsky went through a series of hearing tests and was fitted for a hearing aid enabling him to experience what those who lose their hearing experience, and ultimately providing the foundation for creating Hearing Solution.
"Going through the hearing exams and wearing a hearing device really helped me understand the value of hearing," said Dmitri Yanov-Yanovsky. "In my field, my life - my music - are based on sound; without it, there is nothing."
Family Life
During his time in the United States, Yanov-Yanovsky has been living with David Sawyer, vice president, Marketing, Siemens, and his family.
"I have enjoyed my experience with the Sawyers and learning about American life while at the same time teaching the family about my culture, the culture of Uzbekistan," said Dmitri Yanov-Yanovsky. "This program is a great way to learn about different people and demonstrate how music can help cultural understanding."
According to David Sawyer, "Our time with Dmitri has been about music and understanding his culture through that medium. While we communicated about Uzbek culture, we learned about his country and his people through his art."
In fact, Yanov-Yanovsky extended his composing to include the creation of individual pieces of music for each of the members of the Sawyer family. He is also spending time with the children teaching them how to play their pieces on the piano.
Benefits of Cultural Exchange
The Artists-In-Residence program echoes one of the Siemens' core values, which is to foster a global network of cultures and people from around the world. This program is a tangible example of how cultures can gain a better understanding of one another, simply by sharing the gift of music.
"We are a global company so it is essential that we understand the culture from which our employees come and where our offices are located," said Frank Molinaro, managing director of Siemens Corporate Citizenship programs, and president of Siemens Caring Hands. "It's about being open-minded and accepting people. The Artists-In-Residence program provides a bridge - music - allowing us to have one
common language."
The next participant in the Artists-In-Residence program is Tamami Tono, from Japan. Her residency will begin in early 2003.
About The Silk Road Project
The Silk Road Project, Inc. is a not-for-profit arts organization founded in 1998 by Mr. Ma. The purpose of the Silk Road Project is to illuminate the Silk Road's historical contribution to the cross-cultural diffusion of arts, technologies, and musical traditions, identify the voices that best represent its cultural legacy today, and support innovative collaborations among outstanding artists from the lands of the Silk Road and the West. The Project has had extraordinary support from the private sector. In addition to Siemens, Ford Motor Company is the other Global Corporate Partner of the Silk Road Project. Sony Classical is the founding supporter. For more information on the Silk Road Project go to www.silkroadproject.org.
About Siemens Hearing Solutions
Headquartered in Piscataway, New Jersey, Siemens Hearing Solutions (Siemens Hearing Instruments, Inc.), designs, engineers and manufactures advanced digital, digital, digitally programmable and advanced conventional hearing aids in all custom (ITC, ITE, and CIC) and behind-the-ear (BTE) models.
The Company also offers audiologic software along with a wide variety of equipment for Hearing Health Care Professionals, hearing aid batteries and a wide array of assistive listening devices (ALDs), such as amplified phones, which help improve the quality of life of the hearing impaired. Visit www.siemens-hearing.com for more information.
About Siemens Corporation
Siemens AG (NYSE: SI), headquartered in Munich, is a leading global electronics and engineering company. It employs some 450,000 people in 193 countries, and reported worldwide sales of more than $74 billion in fiscal 2001 (10/1/00 - 9/30/01). The United States is Siemens' largest market, with nearly 80,000 employees and sales of $18.9
billion for fiscal 2001. For more information about Siemens in the U.S., go to www.usa.siemens.com
