“Nothing about us, without us.”
Melissa Ngan shared this quote during her keynote speech at the November 2020 Jacobs School of Music Community Engagement Summit. “It really is not equitable to create public facing programs without public participation…there should be participation from the public in every aspect.” These sentiments summarize much of what Melissa has embraced through her innovative career with the Fifth House Ensemble.
Praised by the New York Times for its “conviction, authority, and finesse,” the Chicago-based Fifth House Ensemble harnesses the collaborative spirit of chamber music to reach beyond the traditionally-perceived limits of classical music. The ensemble’s artistic, educational, and civic programs engage theater groups, video game designers, corporate innovators, and folk bands to share stories as diverse as the communities it serves.
The Fifth House Ensemble participated in the November Summit alongside Stanford Thompson from Play on Philly and Afa Dworkin from the Sphinx Organization, as they all collectively explored what it means to meaningfully connect with community through the arts. Melissa Ngan, Founder of the Fifth House Ensemble, shared an insightful keynote speech about cultivating creative communities. The Fifth House Ensemble then followed up with a music, mindfulness, and community building practice known as Deep Listening that is equal parts contemplative, whimsical, and oftentimes hilarious. This cemented their one-of-a-kind insight on how music, social wellness, civic duty, and education are all deeply intertwined.
The Jacobs Community Engagement Initiative is thrilled to continue this partnership with the Fifth House Ensemble through Fall 2021. In the fall, the Fifth House Ensemble will have the chance to debut their Undertale LIVE Project to audiences of Indiana University students and rural community partners. This musical gaming experience will then be followed up with a more intimate collaboration between the Fifth House Ensemble and the community of Salem, IN.
Undertale LIVE is more than just a concert; it’s a meeting place where fans join the quest by voting on each show’s unique storyline. The show features musical arrangements for Fifth House Ensemble by Eric Roth with Chris Opperman, with audience choice driving the action. One of the most acclaimed video games of the past decade, solo developer Toby Fox’s indie hit Undertale has enchanted a fanbase of nearly 4 million players worldwide through its heartwarming story, quirky characters, and Fox’s own trailblazing musical score. Undertale introduces players to a secret world of monsters who were sealed underground long ago with an ingenious twist in perspective: players can resolve each encounter nonviolently, inviting us to empathize with those most different from ourselves. This plot twist aligns cleverly with the Fifth House Ensemble’s overarching values of crafting purposeful relationships with audiences and communities.
The Fifth House Ensemble has engaged in significant social initiatives that extend beyond their creative partnerships.They are devoted to providing resources and experiences to social service organizations within their community – showing the fundamental good that arts experiences can provide a diverse population, while also creating documentation and research that can be utilized by society at large. The Ensemble is planning collaboration with a handful of Jacobs School of Music students along with Salem residents to craft a worthwhile arts activity in the rural community. This engagement is being built with open-mindedness and prioritizing Salem’s own community articulated wants and visions, which is an approach that the Fifth House Ensemble is well-versed with.
The exact dates and details of these activities will be solidified as more guidance comes from Indiana University Bloomington regarding in-person activity for Fall 2021.
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