Naperville Sun: 'NCC Sinfonietta concert salutes MLK' Under Baton of Maestro Paul Freeman

[TOP: Jonita Lattimore; MIDDLE: Gwendolyn Brown; BOTTOM: "The Chicago Sinfonietta marks the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a musical celebration at 8 p.m. Jan. 16 at North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall. Photo of Maestro Paul Freeman and the orchestra Courtesy of NCC"]

SuburbanChicagoNews.com/NapervilleSun/
NCC Sinfonietta concert salutes MLK
January 8, 2010
By ANNIE ALLEMAN
For Sun-Times Media
“Historically speaking, there haven't been a lot of African-Americans in the world of classical music. In 1987, one man sought to change that. Music director Paul Freeman founded the Chicago Sinfonietta Orchestra with a vision of inclusiveness and innovation, and a dream that all Americans could enjoy and contribute to the cultural richness of classical music.

"'The core mission is that classical music is an art form that should be available to all people, and all people are capable of excellence in it,' said Don Macica, marketing director with the Chicago Sinfonietta Orchestra. 'To hear and see an orchestra on stage doing something that historically has only been associated with one group is pretty inspiring. It proves false about the assumptions of what people can and can't do. People can do a lot. It doesn't matter what their background is.'

“Naperville's North Central College hosts the Chicago Sinfonietta's presentation of "The Dream Lives On: Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.' at 8 p.m. Jan. 16 in the Wentz Concert Hall. Led by conductor Freeman, the program celebrates King's life, work and vision with music from the nation's most diverse symphony orchestra. The performance concludes with audience participation on the spiritual 'We Shall Overcome.'

“Freeman once met King in an Atlanta airport, and when he told King he was a classical music conductor, King remarked that that was the last bastion. 'Classical music has been considered a cultural elite thing. It is overwhelmingly white; that's the reality,' Macica said. 'The Sinfonietta -- both the audience and the people who perform -- 33 to 36 percent are from diverse ethnic backgrounds. It's a particular point of pride.'

“The program opens with Gabriel Faure's 'Pavane Opus 50,' and continues with four Negro spirituals arranged for orchestra and soprano by Hale Smith. The Sinfonietta will be joined by guest soloists and classically trained opera singers Gwendolyn Brown (contralto) and soprano Jonita Lattimore. These four spiritual movements include 'Let Us Break Bread Together,' 'Jesus, Lay Your Head in the Window,' 'This Little Light of Mine' and 'Witness.'" [Maestro Paul Freeman (b. 1936) is profiled at AfriClassical.com]