The concert is held in observance of the Martin L. King Jr. holiday and celebrates the history, achievements and culture of African-Americans. Music, dance, history and multimedia performances will be part of the free event, which is open to the community.
As in the past, the concert will feature music composed and/or arranged by African-Americans in a variety of styles.
Highlight of the event will be the performance by alumnus George Shirley, the first African-American tenor and second African-American male to sing leading roles with the Metropolitan Opera. His repertoire will include "Witness," arranged by Hall Johnson; "The Negro Speaks of Rivers," by John Work; and "Soliloquy," by Margaret Bonds.
WSU music, art and dance faculty members will participate. JoAnn Richardson, music, will perform a piano selection by Margaret Bonds. Norah Duncan IV, music, will lead the Men's Glee Club and Choral Union through traditional and gospel songs with choreography by Linda Cleveland Simmons, dance.
The New World Jazz Percussion Ensemble directed by Dave Taylor, music, will perform a West African rhythm selection. LaTanya Keita, dance, will lecture on the elements of West African drums and will dance in the traditional West African style.
Robert Martin, art, will present a performance piece, "Nonsense," that spontaneously transforms music into interactive visual art in real time.
The composition, "Piano Maniac," by Lettie Beckon Alston, first African-American composer to obtain a doctorate from the University of Michigan, will be performed by Angelina Pashmakova.
The music department and Martin Luther King Jr. Symposium Committee are co-sponsors of the event.