The Gentry Lecture is our annual lecture series named in honor of Stokes and Mary Jane Gentry, founders, board members, and residents of Wake Robin. The series was established in 2002 and brings prominent speakers from government, science, education, economics, and the arts to our campus. Suggestions for lectures come from residents and staff. This series is supported by resident contributions.
This year’s lecture featured the life story of Arn Chorn-Pond a Cambodian musician, human rights activist, and survivor of the Khmer Rouge genocide who is widely known for using music and the arts to promote healing, reconciliation, and cultural preservation. During the Khmer Rouge regime, he survived as a child laborer by playing music for the regime’s soldiers. After escaping to a refugee camp, he was adopted by an American family and resettled in the United States.
In 1998, Arn Chorn-Pond founded Cambodian Living Arts, an organization dedicated to preserving Cambodia’s endangered traditional music and performing arts by connecting surviving master artists with younger generations. After the Khmer Rouge period, many of Cambodia’s artists had been killed, placing entire artistic traditions at risk.
The day before the event there were two showings of “The Flute Player,” a powerful video about Arn’s life. The movie served as an important introduction to Arn’s extraordinary story and the impact of his accomplishments.
Arn’s presentation featured authentic Cambodian flute music, and he told the story of his survival. He continues to work to restore traditional music to Cambodia, to heal trauma, and rebuild communities. Arn Chorn-Pond’s amazing story is literally one to be heard.
