African American Concert Music
Sunday, November 11, 2012, 4:00 p.m.
Featuring Timothy B. Miller, tenor
Atlanta Music Festival Dwight Andrews and Steven DarseyDwight Andrews
Artistic Director
The Chancel Choir of First Congregational Church
Norma Raybon
Director of Music
The Meridian Chorale and Soloists
Steven Darsey
Music Director
First Congregational Church
105 Courtland Street NE, Atlanta, Georgia
Presented in the newly renovated historic Atlanta First Church. Directions.
Admission is freean offering will be taken
In 2001 Dwight Andrews and Steven Darsey, under the auspices of
Atlanta's First Congregational Church and Meridian Herald, resurrected a
long-defunct musical tradition begun by First Church in 1910. (See New Georgia Encyclopedia.)
Presented annually, the Atlanta Music Festival celebrates the finest of
African American concert music and musicians. In 2011, in collaboration
with Emory University, the Music Festival featured international opera
star and Atlanta native Indra Thomas. Spanning a week, the festival
included workshops with Ms. Thomas for Georgia Public School and
Woodward students at Woodward Academy, a vocal workshop at Emory for
area college students, a composition workshop with renowned composer T.
J. Anderson, and an event at Atlanta Symphony Hall with commentary and a
performance of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" by 577 Atlanta area 4th,
5th, and 6th grade students, teaching them the origin of the hymn, its
influence on generations of Americans and others throughout the world,
and the power of its music and verse. The week culminated with a gala
performance at Emory's Schwartz Center with Ms. Thomas, the First Church
Choir, the Morehouse College Glee Club, and the Meridian Chorale and
soloists offering spirituals and concert music with narration by
Ambassador Andrew Young.