Saturday, April 30, 2011

NorthJersey.com: 'George Walker is honored by Newark School of the Arts'

[(Photo Courtesy of Ausrine Dereskeviciute) George Walker, right, enjoys the moment with his friend Kevin Maynor, board member of Newark School of the Arts.]

Thursday, April 28, 2011
The Montclair Times
George Theophilus Walker of Montclair was the artistic honoree at the Newark School of the Arts' 17th annual cabaret fundraiser, held April 20 at New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Walker, a composer and pianist, was the first African-American man to receive the Pulitzer Prize in music, for his work 'Lilacs for Voice and Orchestra.'

“'It is heartening to know how much the Newark School of the Arts is contributing to the personal lives of its students and the community at large,' Walker, 88, told the audience. 'Having the opportunity to study and perform music, dance, drama and visual arts at a young age is like opening the window to a perspective that has no boundaries.'

“A tribute to Walker was delivered by Kevin Maynor, a NSA board member and a friend of Walker's. Maynor, a professional bass singer, sang a composition that Walker wrote when he was 24 years old but did not hear performed for seven years and then waited another 43 years before hearing it in concert. 'I am particularly pleased that some of my music has been included on the program,' Walker said. 'A composer exists when his music is heard.'" [Composer George Walker (b. 1922) has a website at: http://georgetwalker.com/ and is featured at AfriClassical.com]

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