Minot music conductor Efrain Amaya’s chamber opera “Constellations” has been released on CD.

Arts Crossing, a nonprofit organization in Minot, announced the world release of the CD with Albany Records Label of Albany, N.Y.

Amaya is the music director and conductor of the Minot Symphony Orchestra and co-director of the Western Plains Opera. He’s also assistant professor at Minot State University.

According to Arts Crossing information, “Constellations” was created with a story and libretto by Susana Amundarain. It was inspired by the work and life of renowned Spanish artist Joan Miro, just before the onset of World War II, in the coasts of Normandy. The project started as a collaborative creative work between Efrain and Amundarain during an artist residency summer at Yaddo, New York. In Amaya’s words: “I’m so excited to culminate this project with the launching of this CD. “Constellations” is a piece very close to my heart, perhaps because among other things, it highlights the power of art to elevate our souls in the midst of darkness and conflict. I am very thankful to all that made this possible, both the premiere performances and the production of this CD. It took the support of family, friends, and a few grants. I’m truly happy that we are able to leave testimony of this work’s world premiere with this recording”.

The live performances with the Arts Crossing Chamber Orchestra, under the baton of Amaya, took place in Philadelphia in December 2015, in the Neighborhood House, Old City. A master recording was made out of these performances, and it’s now available to all audiences through www.albanyrecords.com.

The CD production was possible in part through the sponsorship of Minot State University and the generous support of private donors.

Arts Crossing’s objective to be an experimental and experiential space for the creation of interdisciplinary works of art. It embraces all the arts: music in its various forms, visual arts, theatrical arts, dance, writing, film, and derivatives of those.