Monday, June 9, 2008

A William Levi Dawson Choral Festival for Anniston, Alabama?

[The Spirituals of William L. Dawson; The St. Olaf Choir; Anton Armstron, conductor; Marvis Martin, soprano; St. Olaf Records 2159 (1997)]

A tale of Anniston city 06-08-2008
This class project by Anne Anderson, a Knight Community Journalism Fellow at The Star, shows how Calhoun County can enhance its arts, its entertainment — and its livability.” “Ever heard of William Levi Dawson? You've no doubt heard his work. If you've listened to a gospel choir sing "Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirt" or "There Is a Balm in Gilead," you've probably heard one of Dawson's arrangements.” “A concert of Dawson works featuring the 80-member Tuskegee University Golden Voices Choir this past February filled St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Anniston. A performance that included Dawson and similar works by the Talladega College Choir a week later filled the auditorium at the Anniston Museum of Natural History. So why not a Dawson festival drawing choirs from the Southeastern states and beyond, competing for honors and prizes? His life story could be the basis for a play performed during the festival.” Full Post [The African American composer and choral director William Levi Dawson (1899-1990) is profiled at AfriClassical.com]

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