Saturday, January 5, 2008

Shreveport Symphony Orchestra Premieres "King's Wonderful Dream" by Darrel Andrews


Saturday, January 19, 2008
Shreveport RiverView Theatre, 600 Clyde Fant Parkway, Shreveport.
"King's Wonderful Dream" is a new orchestral work of Darrel Andrews, an African American composer. It will be performed by the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra accompanied by Walter Jackson narrating excerpts from the famous "I Have a Dream" speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Jan. 19, 7:30 p.m. The concert is free.

Darrel Andrews is a native of Lafayette, Louisiana. He earned a B.S. degree in Music Education at Southern University, started the band program at Carroll High School in Monroe, Louisiana, and remained there until retirement in 1979. Singer Ray Charles sponsored a recording session of seven of Andrews' tunes, and two tunes were recorded by Bobby "Blue" Bland. Later, Andrews received a Masters Degree in Music from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago. During his 28 years as Band Director he wrote many original compositions which were used for half-time shows. He also supplied music for a drama entitled "Attica 7" dealing with prison reform, which was presented on the campus of Northeast Louisiana University.

Andrews has written advertising jingles, and has been commissioned to write works for the Inter-City Row Modern Dance Company and the Marshall Symphony Orchestra. He belongs to the Piano Technicians Guild, Inc., and the Southern Songwriter's Guild, and is a Resident Artist in Music Composition with the Shreveport Regional Arts Council. His composition “King's Wonderful Dream” uses excerpts, with permission, from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s speech “I Have A Dream”. The work incorporates “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child", "Oh Freedom, Oh Freedom", "Battle Hymn of the Republic", and "Amazing Grace". Darrel Andrews is very pleased to have Walter Jackson, his former Band student, join him after 45 years, as Narrator for this presentation.

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