Sunday, May 17, 2015

Dominique-René de Lerma: Ninety-Six Years of NANM


Dominique-René de Lerma:

NINETY-SIX YEARS OF NANM

From 19 to 23 July, the National Association of Negro Musicians will hold its 96th annual convention in the DC area, with venues starting at Silver Springs' Sheraton.
The organization, founded in 1919, has given focus to the dignity of the people at a time it was being maligned on stage, in film, by and the music industry.  It provided early exposure to the talents of Leontyne Price and Marian Anderson and, within its membership, have been the nation's leading educators, performers, and scholars.
That tradition is being continued at the July meeting, honoring Martina Arroyo, Richard Smallwood, Willie Anthony Waters, Charlotte Holloman, and Raymond Jackson.  Among the scheduled features are a piano master class conducted by Leon Bates; workshops led by James Abbington, Karen Walwyn, and Roland Carter; a master class led by Martina Arroyo; Robert Sims and Christopher Brooks in tribute to Roland Hayes; and Kevin Short and Cliff Jackson in tribute to Ben Holt.  Among the concerts will be a recital with Kevin Short, Martina Arroyo, Leon Bates, Richard Smallwood, Kenneth Kellogg, and Asha Lindsey. The memorial session will doubtless pay respects to the late Arthur LaBrew, who had a life-long dedication to NANM.
Its first 25 years was the basis of the Wayne State University dissertation by former president Willis Patterson in 1993.  A documentary history of the National Association of Negro Musicians, published in 2004 by the Center for Black Music Research, was edited by Doris Evans McGinty.
Late registration is still being accepted at http://www.nanm.org/

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Dominique-René de Lerma

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