Huntsville, Ala. — The public is invited to the seventh biennial Festival of Spirituals, featuring world renown Historically Black College and University (HBCU) choirs. As the event has grown in popularity over the last several years, this year the program will be held in the Mark C. Smith Concert Hall at the Von Braun Center. There is no admission charge for this program, scheduled for Sunday, February 26, 2012 at 4:00 p.m.
The program is supported in part by a grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts, and will feature HBCU Choirs of Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee, in additional to local church chorales. Following a musical prelude, the main event will begin with the 500 voice mass choir directed by Dr. Lloyd Mallory of Delaware State University. Each school choir will present two spirituals. The Grand Finale will feature the mass choir under the direction of Dr. Lindy McLeod of Talladega College.
In recognition of their outstanding community service and contributions to society, education and the Arts, this year’s honorees include:
· Allyson Dylan – Director of the Huntsville Arts Council
· Julie Moore-Foster – Faculty Member in the Dept. of Music at Oakwood University
· Cleveland and Antoinette Wilson – musicians at First Seventh-day Adventist Church
· Martin Van Sherrill – physician and supporter of the Arts in the Tennessee Valley
· Lloyd Mallory – Director of Choral Activities at Delaware State University
· Committed – World famous, award winning music group
Master and Mistress of Ceremonies will be WAFF TV Anchor Liz Hurley, and Debbie Michel, former NBC News reporter and faculty member at Andrews University.
Although there is no admission charge, contributions will be accepted.
In the 1960s, Alabama HBCU presidents formed the Alabama Center for Higher Education (ACHE) under the direction of Dr. Richard Arrington, former Mayor of Birmingham. ACHE was established to provide strength through unity, increase visibility in the local community, and enhancement of institutional and ethnic pride. ACHE hosted a festival for the HBCU choirs to celebrate Black History Month. The HBCU choirs include: Alabama A&M University (1875), Alabama State University (1867), Miles College (1905), Oakwood University (1896), Stillman College (1876), Talladega College (1867) and Tuskegee University (1881). Due to lack of funds, the festival discontinued and ACHE closed. During OU’s centennial in 1996, choirs from Alabama’s HBCUs and Tennessee State University came together to present an exceptional program at the Oakwood University Church. Fourteen years later, the Festival of Spirituals continues on Sunday, February 26at 4:00 pm in the Von Braun Civic Center Mark C. Smith Concert Hall.
Although there is no admission charge, contributions will be accepted.
c/o Public Relations Office
Oakwood University
7000 Adventist Blvd. ~ Huntsville, AL 35896 ~ (256) 726-7202 ~ pr@oakwood.edu
Putting God first, in pursuit of Education | Excellence | Eternity
Check out:
www.http://www.EmpowerOU.org
Posted By: How May I Help You NC
Thursday, February 23rd 2012 at 10:51AM
You can also
click
here to view all posts by this author...
