“The Southeast Symphony Orchestra’s Message Is Simple: The Classical Music Experience is Our Experience Too”

[Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges, Sonata for Violin and Pianoforte in A Major, Op. 11; Stéphanie-Marie Degand, Violin; Aline Zylberajch, Pianoforte; Orchestre du Parlement de Music; Martin Gester, Conductor; Assai M10 (2004)]

The Hutchinson L.A. Report
Monday, July 7, 2008
Earl Ofari Hutchinson
“Despite what some mistakenly think, classical music is our experience too. That’s the black experience. For six decades, the Southeast Symphony Orchestra in Los Angeles has had this ambitious goal: to nourish the classical music experience among African-Americans, provide a venue for artists and musicians to play and for audiences to learn and enjoy classical music, as well as to train the next generation of young African-American classical musicians. The orchestra under the direction of nationally renowned musicologist, conductor and concert artist maestro Charles Dickerson will hold its 60th anniversary season closing concert on Sunday, July 20 at 3:00 PM at the Walt Disney Concert Hall with a powerhouse afternoon of American classical music gems. They include Gershwin’s American in Paris, Rhapsody in Blue and Porgy and Bess. The program will feature some of Los Angeles’s renowned black virtuoso performers.”

“African-American Heritage in Classical Music (AfriClassical.com) lists 52 composers, conductors and instrumental performers - Africans, African Americans and Afro-Europeans spanning five centuries. These artists are unknown to most of us, yet are so numerous the web site can present only a fraction of them. They have made enduring contributions to classical music. Several have composed, conducted and performed classical music. Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-1799) of Guadeloupe is one of those multi-talented musicians.”

“Dickerson, and the dedicated board members and core of loyal patrons of the Southeast Symphony, have labored in the shadows for years to fund and sustain the orchestra and its community outreach programs.” “The July 20th gala concert is the way to help them. But this is more than a concert. It’s a statement that African-Americans have been and will continue to be in the pantheon of the classical music world.” Full Post

Southeast Symphony Orchestra
Classical Music Is Black Experience Too
Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges
Walt Disney Concert Hall
July 20 3 PM
African Heritage in Classical Music