Event Description
Inspired by the words & action of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
This stirring production ties together a living lineage of music and culture that includes gospel, classical, jazz, Broadway and spirituals – from Aretha Franklin to Wynton Marsalis, from Duke Ellington to Stevie Wonder, from Nina Simone to Donny Hathaway, from traditional spirituals and music from The Wiz. African-American music traditions that electrified generations of civil rights activists and defenders are interwoven with spoken word from Dr. King’s recorded speeches.
Producer and Musical Director Damien Sneed’s broad experience across styles and genres brings everything together in a night of remembrance and celebration. Sneed has conducted and collaborated on major original works for Wynton Marsalis, regularly accompanied Jessye Norman, collaborated with Lawrence Brownlee, and toured extensively with Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin and The Clark Sisters.
The Jeremy Winston Chorale, an ensemble that pulls together singers from across the nation, will also be joining the performance in Dayton. Founded in 2012, The Jeremy Winston Chorale has made an indelible mark in the music community with adept performers of all music including the classics of the masters, spirituals, gospel, and popular music with commanding accuracy and outstanding musicianship.