The Durham Symphony and NCCU choir to honor King on Saturday

Published: Jan 11, 2012 02:00 AM Modified: Jan 09, 2012 05:58 PM
http://www.thedurhamnews.com/2012/01/11/210574/symphony-nccu-choir-to-honor-king.html

Symphony, NCCU choir to honor King on Saturday

William Henry Curry, artistic director for the North Carolina Symphony's Summerfest, conducts the North Carolina Symphony last summer. Curry will lead the Durham Symphony and University Choir Saturday. Robert Willett - rwillett@newsobserver.com

The University Choir of N.C. Central University will honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. when it performs with the Durham Symphony in the second annual MLK Concert Celebration.

The concert will be at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, at the Durham Armory.

Under the direction of William Henry Curry, the Durham Symphony and University Choir will perform selections from Curry's work, "Eulogy for a Dream," originally premiered in 1999 by the Indianapolis Symphony.

Based on the speeches and writings of Dr. King, the work is now performed by orchestras around the country each January. Dr. Richard Banks, assistant professor of music and director of the University Choir, will also conduct.

While other choirs have performed with the symphony, this is the first time a choir has been exclusively invited to perform with the orchestra.

"Mr. Curry called a few months ago and said he knew that NCCU was the best African-American choir in the area," said Banks. "He asked if I would be interested, and the rest is history."

After accepting the engagement, one problem became evident.

More singers were needed to balance the orchestra. The University Choir has 40 members, while the orchestra is composed of 70 players. To provide vocal balance, Banks gathered an NCCU alumni choir of 30 additional members.

Many of the alumni were members of last year's Centennial Choir.

Selection highlights for the concert include:

"Harriet Tubman," for choir and orchestra, conducted by Curry.

"What a Mighty God," a gospel work, also for choir and orchestra.

"Hallelujah" from Handel's Messiah for choir and orchestra.

"My Soul's Been Anchored," sung a cappella by the choir, conducted by Banks.

NCCU will continue its celebration of Dr. King's legacy with an MLK Convocation on at 9:45 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, in the B.N. Duke Auditorium. Chancellor Charlie Nelms will deliver the address. After the convocation a rally will take place at the Shepard House. This event is free and open to the public.

The Durham Symphony began in 1976 as an all-volunteer community orchestra, offering free concerts. It has since evolved into a semi-professional orchestra composed of a combination of volunteers and professionals, all classically trained.

To purchase tickets for the Durham Symphony concert, go to http://bit.ly/yvlHws

All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be published, broadcast or redistributed in any manner.

© Copyright 2012, The News & Observer Publishing Company
A subsidiary of The McClatchy Company