Chevalier: A New Musical Concept Album

CHEVALIER: A New Musical Concept Album

A concept album that brings to life the story of Joseph Bologne, a largely forgotten French Creole musical genius of mixed-race heritage.

What Is This Project?

Chevalier: A New Musical is an original stage musical written, composed, and lyrics by Todd Macadangdang — and we are producing its concept album.

Fifteen songs. One extraordinary life. A story some didn't want the world to hear.

Musical Synopsis

Chevalier is a semi-autobiographical new musical about one of the most gifted — and most forgotten — musicians in history. Joseph Bologne didn't just play music. He lived it. Composer, conductor, virtuoso — he was the toast of 18th-century France. But Joseph was also the son of a French landowner and an enslaved woman, and in a world obsessed with bloodlines, even genius has a ceiling. Then he falls in love — and everything changes.

How This Got Started

When I stumbled upon the story of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, the song and lyrics just came. A musical genius, champion swordsman, and natural leader, he was born the son of a plantation owner and an enslaved woman- I was hooked. 

Though he was given every advantage by his father, and received an elite education and gained access to the highest circles of French society, the world found ways to remind him of what he was not. 

He was celebrated and excluded in the same breath. Admired and denied. The woman he loved was beyond his reach. The opportunities he earned were taken from him.

His story touched me, so about a year ago I began writing lyrics and producing some of the songs.

From the moment his mother had to send him away, being strong for him because he wasn’t, knowing it would give him everything he deserved but cost her everything she loved:

To his early life alone in a foreign country:

I've been self-funding this concept album since then, pouring everything I have into bringing Joseph's story to life. But I can't finish it alone. I thought now would be a great time to see if anyone else felt this was a story worth telling...

So many artists are overlooked, their stories forgotten. I'd love your help to tell his.

How Your Money Is Used

Every dollar raised goes directly into recording the concept album. Here's an honest look at what it actually costs to make this:

Composer/Arranger — Orchestrations & Backing Tracks Each song starts as a melody on piano that I create. I hire a composer/arranger then transforms it into a full backing track — strings, brass, rhythm, atmosphere (usually digital. I can't afford a real orchestra). That runs between $120 and $400 per minute of finished music. Across 15 songs, this is our single largest expense.

Vocal Talent Our cast ranges from talented regional singers to established stage professionals. Regional talent runs around $150/hour. Professional Broadway and West End caliber artists can run $1,000/hour or more. 

Studio Recording, Mixing & Mastering Studio time runs upward of $125/hour — and that's before mixing and mastering, which are separate processes that shape the final sound of every track.

A note on our production approach: Our talent comes from regional singers and emerging professionals who bring incredible skill and passion to this project. As we raise more funds, we are able to reach further — toward established professional stage talent, award-winning vocal artists, and the production quality that matches the scale of this story.

Why Donate?

• Because extraordinary stories deserve to be told.
• Because live theater still moves, challenges, and inspires.
• Because Joseph Bologne deserves to be as known as Mozart.
• Because you enjoy hearing new and original music.
• Because you want to help bring a new musical to life—from the very beginning.

Plus the rewards are cool too, like BTS previews:

Stretch Goals

$15,000 — West End Reach Additional funding allows us to pursue professional West End and Broadway-connected talent for key roles — artists whose names and voices can help take Chevalier from concept album to full production. I have a few existing relationships that make this a genuine possibility with the right funding.

$18,000 — Full Orchestration At this level, we can expand beyond piano-driven backing tracks to richer full orchestrations on select songs — the sweeping, cinematic sound that Chevalier's score I had hoped for.

$25,000 — Live Orchestra Recording My dream. At this level, we pursue live orchestral recording on flagship songs — the kind of album that commands attention from Broadway and London producers and developmental theaters worldwide.

Following the album release, Chevalier will be submitted to producers, developmental theaters, and musical theater festivals — with the goal of a full world premiere production. Seattle would be cool.

Why Kickstarter?

Kickstarter is the most honest and direct way to fund a creative project. We just want to reach people who believe in a story, backing the artists who are telling it.

And to be transparent, additional funding allows me to expand beyond my circle of musical friends and family and bring in a wider range of professional talent.

Finally, your support does not just fund an album. It sends a message — that audiences are hungry for stories like this one. It tells the industry that Chevalier has a community behind it before it ever hits a stage.

Thank you for being part of this from the beginning.

Lets do this~