*Article contributed by the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra.
KALAMAZOO (MICH).–The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra (KSO) shares the stage with members of the Kalamazoo arts community in a concert honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Symphony of Brotherhood: Honoring the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will take place on Sunday, Jan. 21, at 3 p.m. in Western Michigan University’s Miller Auditorium. Through the pieces on this program, the KSO and community partners reflect together to bring Dr. King’s vision to life through music. The concert, sponsored by Miller Canfield, will feature a side-by-side performance with Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra students and the combined choruses of Kalamazoo Central and Loy Norrix High Schools.
The concert is titled after a passage from Dr. King’s 1963 speech given at Miller Auditorium, “With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation to a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.” Dr. Kandace R. Lavender of Read and Write Kalamazoo will give a spoken word performance in response to composer Margaret Bonds’ work “The Montgomery Variations.” Community leader and philanthropist Larry Bell joins the Symphony to narrate Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait.”
ADDITIONAL PARTNERSHIPS: Preconcert activities will start in the lobby an hour before the performance (2 p.m.) and include music by Kalamazoo Kids In Tune and a youth leadership fair. The following organizations and more will share opportunities for young people to get involved and shape important efforts in our community:
- El Concilio
- Kalamazoo Nature Center Youth Climate Leaders
- Kalamazoo Youth Development Network (KydNet)
- KRESA’s Youth Opportunities Unlimited/MyCITY
- Merze Tate Explorers
- Read and Write Kalamazoo (RAWK)
- Rootead
- Second Wave Media
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
“The Montgomery Variations” | Margaret Bonds
Margaret Bonds was a Chicago-born pianist and composer who studied with well-known composer Florence Price. While finishing her studies, Bonds would become the first Black soloist to perform with the Chicago Symphony with a performance of John Carpenter’s piano concerto. Dr. Kandace R. Lavender, executive director of Read and Write Kalamazoo, will give a spoken word performance, reflecting on the experiences and events that Bonds’ music represents.
“Lincoln Portrait” | Aaron Copland
Abraham Lincoln’s presidential legacy of preserving democracy and abolishing slavery in the US echoes throughout history. While preceding Dr. King by a century, the two are connected in history through their civil rights leadership. Community leader and philanthropist Larry Bell will read the narration portion of this piece.
“Lift Every Voice and Sing” | James Weldon Johnson & John Rosamond Johnson
In 1899, James Weldon Johnson wrote the poem “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which was later set to music composed by his brother, John Rosamond Johnson. A year later, the piece debuted in celebration of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. Its first performance was given by 500 students from Stanton School in Jacksonville, Florida, where James Weldon Johnson was principal. Closing the concert, the KSO will be joined by the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra and both high school choirs. Also included on the program are Aaron Copland’s “The Promise of Living” from his opera “The Tender Land” and André J. Thomas’ “I Dream a World,” featuring the Loy Norrix and Kalamazoo Central High School Choirs.
The Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra (KJSO), the flagship ensemble and namesake of the organization, is led by Andrew Koehler, who also serves as a professor of music at Kalamazoo College and is the music director of the acclaimed Kalamazoo Philharmonia. In addition to the KJSO’s three annual performances of professional-level repertoire in the historic Chenery Auditorium, the KJSO also tours internationally and offers a dynamic chamber music training program for select KJSO members who are coached by professional musicians in the area.
TICKETS: Concert tickets are available online through the Epic Center’s Community Box Office by calling 269.250.6984 or at www.KalamazooSymphony.com. Adult tickets start at $18 and Under 18 tickets (for children under the age of 18) start at $15.
ABOUT THE KALAMAZOO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: For over a century, the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra has been sharing lifelong musical experiences and learning throughout our community. The KSO actively collaborates with other Kalamazoo area organizations to inspire, care for, educate, and connect people through the arts. As the state’s third-largest orchestra, with a professional roster of more than 80 musicians and a dedicated staff, the KSO serves Michigan’s sixth-largest metropolitan area through exceptional symphonic music, world-class guest artists, and a vibrant educational program.
The KSO receives significant support from the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation, the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, and is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Michigan Arts and Culture Council. Recognitions, awards, and grants include a major Ford Foundation grant to establish an innovative Artists in Residence program and recognition from Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute. The KSO also receives generous support from other local, state, and national foundations and private and corporate donors.
