KiMani Bridges: THE STORYTELLER BY SHAUNTIONNE MOSLEY PHOTO BY DICK ARNSPIGER
Storytelling is a huge part of the world’s history. Without hearing the true accounts of life, whether it be from song or verbal story, the diverse narratives inspired by the living and dying things around us would be lost. KiMani Bridges, an upcoming composer and flutist, picked up a sort of family heirloom when gravitating towards the flute as a young child. Hearing the skillfully played, whistle-like notes coming from the flutes of her mother and grandmother is what first sparked her curiosity in the instrument. Years later, Bridges has made the talent her own by winning the 2020 G. Schirmer Prize for Luna Composition Lab for her piece, The Flower. This scenic composition for flute, violin, viola, and percussion creates a still life picture in the listeners mind of the birth and death of a flower. For this Louisville, Kentucky native, it’s not enough to just stop and smell the roses. Through her work, Bridges aims to make you feel the moment and embeds the story in your memory through song. As you can imagine, this talented creative is busy balancing school and creative opportunities. Her studies at Louisville’s award winning YPAS (Youth Performing Arts School) at DuPont Manual High School has quickly turned into her doing “basically two degrees” at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where she is a sophomore. In this unique interview for inSpire Magazine, Bridges is interviewed by close friend and fellow student artist, Maurine Mosby. An English Creative Writing and Screenwriting student at the University of Cincinnati, the two’s friendship spans just a little over a decade and it’s evident in their video call. The giggles, playful jabs, and deep understanding between artists who are
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friends gives us an intimate side of KiMani Bridges the masses have yet to see. Maurine: When describing your piece, “The Flower”, you’ve said you were inspired by nature and how a flower grows. From the time a seed is planted, all the way to bloom and death. Do you think that people can see sound? If yes, then what do you do to help listeners see?
KiMani: Well, all of my pieces are kind of like movies. I would say I watch a lot of movies. More than the average person should I guess. So all my stuff has that… story arc. And so, for The Flower, imagine a still film where it’s like the time lapse of a flower growing and that flower dying. I don’t think people can see sound, but I think people can feel sound. Like, feel emotions through sound. You’re putting your own story to the piece.