text: Kerem Durdag & Andy Happel - New Year, New Works - Portland Ovations
  Home>Commissioned Maine Artist, Homepage Live or Virtual, Virtual Events>Kerem Durdag & Andy Happel – New Year, New Works Commissioned Maine Artist Virtual Conversations
  January 13, 2021 • 12:00 pm
  Musical Theater, for their project "The Immigrants—A Story." The epic story of two immigrants, one first generation and the other second-generation, who find themselves in the US and over the course of a life lived make it their home. It is a life of separation and loss with the frustrations of confronting societal hurdles of ignorance and hate. The main characters define their self-identity and find love in the midst of turbulence, joy and revelation. Mr. Durdag is currently the President and Chief Operating Officer of GWI, a leading broadband carrier in Maine. He has deep roots in theater and poetry, having translated Urdu and Turkish poetry while having his original poems published and having the good fortune of reading and performing in public. Andy Happel is a concert violinist and fiddler who has shared the stage with symphonies, pop stars, and country music luminaries alike and leads the acclaimed student group, Scarborough Strings, and maintains a private teaching studio.