Nathaniel Dett Chorale Performs for Inauguration of President Barack Obama Jan. 20, 2009

[The Collected Piano Works of R. Nathaniel Dett; Summy-Birchard (1973)]

JazzElements.com

Jan. 7, 2009

Canadian Choral Group Performs for Presidential Inauguration

Written by Cindy Mcleod

Nathaniel Dett Chorale Dedicated to Afro-Centric Music

Canada’s Nathaniel Dett Chorale has been invited to perform at the presidential inauguration ceremonies of Barak Obama as a gift from our nation to the U. S. public. The Toronto based choral group is dedicated to Afro-centric music of all styles, including blues, jazz, classical, spiritual, gospel and folk. The group will perform before and after the Jan. 20 parade in Washington, with their performances expected to take place in the Canadian Embassy garden. The chorale will follow the historic event with a series of concerts across Western Canada beginning late this month.

The Nathaniel Dett Chorale, so named for internationally renowned African-Canadian composer R. Nathaniel Dett (1882-1943), was founded by Artistic Director Brainerd Blyden-Taylor in 1998. Canada’s first professional choral group dedicated to Afro-centric music of all styles, including classical, spiritual, gospel, jazz, folk and blues, the 25 classically trained vocalists have shared the stage with internationally recognized artists such as Juno Award-winning jazz pianist Joe Sealy; opera star Kathleen Battle and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. The Chorale has also performed at events honoring world leaders Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Muhammad Ali. The chorale have toured across Canada, the United States and Europe and will follow up their appearance at the historic event with a series of concerts across Western Canada. [R. Nathaniel Dett is profiled at AfriClassical.com]