PhD composer Benjamin Martin was recently featured in the Daily Herald for a composition he wrote for Kamila Santiago, a 12-year-old cancer survivor from Lake in the Hills. The piece, titled "Kamila's Story," was commissioned for the Lake Forest College chorus and orchestra and premiered in late April.
"Kamila's Story" was based off of a story Kamila wrote in cooperation with Sing Me a Story, a nonprofit organization that offers children who face serious health issues, loss, or homelessness opportunities to write and illustrate stories which are then set to music by composers. Kamila's storybook details her experience being diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a malignant bone tumor on her left leg, and the ensuing year of surgery and chemotherapy before she was finally declared cancer-free.
Read an excerpt from the news story below, and click here to read the full Daily Herald feature.
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"Drawing inspiration from the Santiago family's faith, Martin — aware that her family speaks Spanish — included a Spanish translation of Psalm 121, which begins: 'I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help./My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber.'
Martin was determined to honor Santiago's bravery and resilience in the six-minute choral/orchestral piece.
'It's a joy to work with an ensemble this big for a project this special … It's quite rare, in a good way,' he said.
'It was important to make the piece more about her than about me,' he added of the music, which he describes as classical concert music 'but maybe sassier.'
Martin hopes 'Kamila's Story' serves as 'a reminder that there is light to be found even in moments of darkness.'"