Khmer classical dancers perform at the event, held in Long Beach in the US state of California last April. PHOTO SUPPLIED
Elevating unity and transformation, the Long Beach Symphony has orchestrated a significant journey in the heart of Long Beach, California.
The Association of California Symphony Orchestras (ACSO) bestowed the esteemed 2023 Social Impact Award on July 13, highlighting the symphony’s profound dedication to catalysing positive change and confronting community challenges.
“This award celebrates our years of work with our Cambodian-American community, creating life-long partnerships and friendships,” said Kelly Ruggirello, who has led the Long Beach Symphony since 2013.
The Long Beach Symphony stands as an epitome of live music production in the region and ranks among Southern California’s esteemed professional regional orchestras.
At the heart of this award-winning initiative lies the ground-breaking project known as ‘KHMERASPORA’ – a remarkable production orchestrated by the Long Beach Symphony in partnership with the local Cambodian community.
The symphony’s board of directors honoured Cambodian-American rapper and Long Beach native Prach Ly, who wrote and directed the ‘KHMERASPORA’, for his remarkable achievement in educating and uniting generations within and beyond the community.
Ly’s accomplishment is particularly noteworthy as he became the first Cambodian American to receive this prestigious recognition.
Reflecting on the award, Prach Ly, also known as Prach Ya Ly or Prach Ly Maden, humbly remarked: “I was not thinking about awards. I just wanted to make sure our story was told, and told right”.
The creation of the Association of California Symphony Orchestras’ (ACSO) Social Impact Award in 2023 marked a momentous occasion. This accolade recognises organisational members who have inspired positive change, tackled challenges, or addressed injustices within their communities.
Founded in 1969, ACSO serves as a valuable network connecting 120 classical music organisations and over 2,000 board and staff members. The Long Beach Symphony’s receipt of this award stands as a testament to their outstanding contribution.
The inspiration for creating the show came when Ruggirello reached out to Ly– well-known for his role in popularising hip-hop music and culture in Cambodia– and proposed the idea of collaborating on a show.
Ly was born in Cambodia and immigrated to the United States with his family during the Khmer Rouge regime. He later returned to Cambodia and played a significant role in introducing rap music to the Cambodian music scene.
Ly enthusiastically pitched his concept, and to his delight, they approved the project. It’s worth noting that the Long Beach Symphony boasts an impressive 89-year history, and his involvement as a rapper marked a unique collaboration, being the first of its kind.
Coincidentally, it also aligned with the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop. Moreover, this venture marked the symphony’s collaboration with the Long Beach Cambodian community.
“The symphony’s generous offer of creative freedom allowed me to write, direct, and perform without any interference,” said Ly. “I’m immensely appreciative of Kelly and Issy Farris for their unwavering support and the opportunity to engage in this incredible collaboration that I hold in high honour”.
Amidst the pandemic, the symphony’s board, staff, and musicians crafted the Musical Bridges initiative to celebrate Long Beach’s diverse communities through free collaborative performances, according to Ruggirello.
She said discussions with Cambodian-American community leaders highlighted the importance of honouring traditional and modern Cambodian arts.
The dynamic performance, led by Ly, featured 15 symphony members and 30 musicians from the Cambodian-American community, including dancers, a pin peat ensemble, and the lead singer from Dengue Fever. The program also introduced three world premieres by renowned composer Chinary Ung.
The brilliance of ‘KHMERA- SPORA’ is evident in its profound impact. Conceived and directed by Ly, the performance elegantly weaves traditional and contemporary Cambodian art forms, bridging generational divides within the community.
“What an amazing event you put on for our community! Thank you for your talent and gift,” said a representative from United Cambodian Community of Long Beach to Prach Ly.
The show itself delves into the Cambodian experience before, during, and after the tumultuous period of the Khmer Rouge regime. It is a story of survival, strength, and resilience, resonating deeply with those whose lives were forever altered by those events.
“KHMERASPORA is a word that I made up. It’s a combination of the words ‘Khmer’ and ‘diaspora’. It’s not just a show, it’s an event that was held on April 29, 2023 at the Long Beach Terrace Theatre,” Ly told The Post.
Ly said that the Terrace Theatre, with over 3,000 seats, had two sold-out shows that day. Alongside the performances, there were food vendors, art exhibits, and live entertainment outside the theatre, showcasing their vibrant Khmer culture.
Long Beach, known for having the largest population of Cambodians outside of Southeast Asia, also boasts a diverse community. It was a beautiful sight to witness everyone coming together in harmony.
In their efforts to build bridges and reach out to other communities in their beloved city, they ensured that all the performing artists, aside from the Long Beach Symphony, were Cambodian American.
“KHMERASPORA tells a story of Cambodian people before the killing fields, during the killing fields, escaping the war, coming to America as refugees and the struggles we go through as displaced people trying our best to adjust and settle in Long Beach city,” said Ly.
The success behind the dark side of Cambodia history is a testament to the transformative power of music and collaboration.
Over 6,000 individuals, spanning generations and backgrounds, flocked to the Long Beach Terrace Theatre on April 29, to witness this cultural masterpiece, according to Ruggirello.
A documentary created in tandem with the show promises to amplify its impact, spreading its message of resilience and unity far beyond Long Beach.
“Many of our genocide survivors and their children and grandchildren finally felt seen and heard. It was also a public forum for people who may have known nothing or little about the Cambodian genocide,” Ruggirello told The Post.
She said a two-hour documentary by award-winning filmmakers Caylee So and Robert Chhaing-Carleton will hopefully have a global impact and inspire other communities to create such meaningful collaborations.
Music, as Ruggirello expressed, serves as a universal vehicle to celebrate, illuminate, educate, and inspire.
The Long Beach Symphony’s unifying efforts align with their vision of inspiring and uniting people through the transcendent power of music.
As the Long Beach community eagerly anticipates the 2028 Summer Olympics, the symphony’s commitment to fostering collaboration and celebrating diversity remains unwavering.
“The ‘KHMERASPORA’ marked a profound collaboration between the Long Beach Symphony and the Cambodian-American community, sparking conversations, understanding, and healing,” said Ruggirello.
As Long Beach continues to thrive as one of the most culturally diverse cities in the United States, the symphony remains steadfast in its mission to unite and inspire through the artistry of music.
“We look forward to featuring our Cambodian artists so that the world can see how lucky Long Beach is to be home to the largest Cambodian population outside of Southeast Asia,” said Ruggirello.
Having worked in the arts for over 40 years, she said, this collaboration was life-changing for her personally and for thousands in the community.
“While I had a vision – and one driven by pure altruism of creating a deeper relationship with our Cambodian community – I never imagined the profound emotional impact of such collaboration,” she says.
The Long Beach community, the musicians, and all who participated are humbled and grateful to have helped the community educate, inspire, heal, and evolve as one city.
