World Premiere Concert Event
CORE 375

Monday, October 14th, 7 p.m.

On October 14, 2024, at Christ Church Detroit, CORE 375, a powerful multi-disciplinary exploration of Detroit’s deep history, will premiere in an immersive and collaborative event that brings together some of the city’s most prominent artists, musicians, and storytellers. Produced by award-winning artist Michelle Andonian and supported by the Knight Foundation’s Knight Arts Challenge, CORE 375 takes audiences on a journey through time, from the Ice Age to the present day, using music, narration, and visual art to capture the essence of Detroit’s past and its trajectory toward the future.

CORE 375 is an innovative project that reflects Detroit’s cultural richness and resilience. It was born from Andonian’s vision to create a “core sample” of the city’s history, uncovering the layers beneath Detroit’s streets that tell the stories of its Indigenous peoples, early settlers, and Black Bottom community. After the COVID-19 pandemic altered the initial creative process, Andonian reimagined CORE 375 as a “Sound Walk,” an experience designed to be enjoyed individually,
with social distancing, or in groups on Detroit’s Dequindre Cut. The soundwalk launched in June of 2024 in partnership with the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy.

Central to CORE 375 is its collaborative nature. Andonian has assembled a diverse group of Detroit artists to bring this immersive experience to life, weaving their talents into a singular narrative. At the heart of the project is the original music, created and performed by saxophonist Dave McMurray, whose contributions to the world of jazz, rock, and pop are known far and wide. McMurray, who has performed with iconic artists like The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan,
crafted compositions that evoke the spirit of Detroit through both original pieces and reinterpretations of historical sounds. His music, shaped by his deep connection to the city, serves as the foundation for the CORE 375 journey. Joining McMurray is Alice Sun, a Detroit-based composer and musician of Indigenous and immigrant roots. Sun’s music taps into the ancestral lineages of sound, offering a reflective and spiritual connection to the land. Her compositions bridge the gap between the past and the present, drawing listeners into a contemplative space that invites them to explore their own connection to history. In CORE 375, Sun’s music underscores the connection between Detroit’s Anishinaabe peoples and their enduring legacy.

Narration for CORE 375 is provided by renowned Detroit cultural historian and writer Marsha Music. The daughter of legendary pre-Motown record producer Joe Von Battle, Music has long been a voice for preserving Detroit’s music and cultural heritage. Her narration in CORE 375 guides audiences through the city’s layered history, providing insight into the events, communities, and people who shaped Detroit. Known for her evocative storytelling, Marsha Music’s words breathe life into the project’s six stations, each dedicated to a different chapter in Detroit’s history.

Also featured in CORE 375 is Rosebud Bear-Schneider, an Anishinaabe farmer, producer, and community organizer from the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. Bear-Schneider lends her voice to the project as a narrator, representing the connection to Detroit’s Indigenous history. As co-director of Education and Engagement at Keep Growing Detroit, Schneider’s work focuses on revitalizing Indigenous foodways and promoting community well-being, reinforcing the importance of honoring Detroit’s original stewards of the land.

The project’s audio landscape is further enhanced by Salar Ansari, a Tehran-born DJ, producer, and sound engineer now rooted in Detroit. Ansari, whose 2021 Detroit Music Award-winning electronic album solidified his place in the city’s music scene, brings his expertise in sound engineering to CORE 375. His work seamlessly integrates the various musical elements and environmental sounds, helping to create a fully immersive auditory experience for audiences. As
co-founder of the Feeder-Loft Studio, Ansari’s contributions to nurturing Detroit’s electronic music talent make him a vital part of the city’s future artistic landscape.

Together, these artists—Andonian, McMurray, Sun, Ansari, Music, and Bear-Schneider—form the creative backbone of CORE 375, creating a tapestry of sound, history, and culture that reflects the unique spirit of Detroit. Their collaboration exemplifies the city’s deep-rooted tradition of artistic synergy, where different disciplines come together to tell a collective story that transcends any single medium.

As audiences engage with CORE 375 through its six stations—spanning from the Ice Age and Prehistoric Life, to Early Detroit, Black Bottom, Indigenous Peoples, and the Present Day and Future—they will experience Detroit’s evolution through a combination of visual collages, original music, and spoken word. Each station offers a window into a different era, inviting audiences to reflect on the city’s dynamic history and its path forward.

The timing of CORE 375 aligns with the Michigan Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) I-375 Reconnecting Communities Project, which aims to replace the I-375 freeway with apedestrian-friendly boulevard that reconnects neighborhoods divided by the original construction. This transformation serves as both a literal and metaphorical backdrop for CORE 375, as the project explores how Detroit’s past informs its future, and how urban renewal can heal long-standing divisions.

Proceeds of all ticket sales will go to support the feeding ministry at Christ Church, which was started in October 2023, which began as a monthly bagged lunch. Initially, only a handful were served, but this program now serves 60-70 people every week, and is one of the only opportunities for a free meal on Sundays. The Outreach Committee hopes to expand to hot meals in the future, and your ticket purchase will help fund that goal. 

For more information about CORE 375, please visit https://www.detroitcore375.com/