“University hosts conversation with civil rights activists & scenes from the opera, ‘Freedom Ride’”

[Faculty Member Dara Rahming is “one of four professional soloists” in scenes from the opera Freedom Ride]

AfriClassical has received a Press Release from Laila Morcos of Peter Mayer Public Relations, on behalf of Xavier University:

Freedom Riders Arrive
at Xavier University
50 Years Later

University hosts conversation
with civil rights activists & 

scenes from the opera,
‘Freedom Ride’

NEW ORLEANS (March 5, 2012) – On May 4, 1961, the first Freedom Ride left Washington, D.C., and was scheduled to arrive in New Orleans on May 17th. The Freedom Ride consisted of activists who called themselves “Freedom Riders” and rode interstate buses through the Southern United States to demonstrate against racial segregation. Xavier University (XU) of Louisiana is honoring their legacy and proudly presents “Freedom Riders Remembered” and scenes from the opera, “Freedom Ride” on Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 at 7 pm in the Auditorium of The Administration building. It is free and open to the public. 

The Freedom Riders’ peaceful mission did not come without strife. Freedom Riders provoked violent reactions in cities where the busses stopped. However, that helped fuel the passion of the Civil Rights Movement. Freedom Riders were arrested and attacked by mobs but never fought back or intervened. 

“Freedom Riders Remembered” is a conversation with some of the original Freedom Riders including, Jerome Smith, Sandra Nixon Thomas, Alice Thompson, Claude Reese, Matt Saurez, and Doratha “Dodie” Smith-Simmons. They will discuss their difficult, yet victorious experiences before performance excerpts from Xavier music professor, Dan Shore’s opera, “Freedom Ride,” which honors those civil rights activists.

The project began about a year ago when Executive Director of Longue Vue House and Gardens Joe Baker commissioned Shore to create something new that was socially significant and relevant to the New Orleans community.

“I was attracted to the story of the Freedom Rides because of, among other reasons, the strong local connection,” said Shore. “Not only was New Orleans the original planned destination of the rides, but many of the non-violence training workshops the riders underwent were held in New Orleans. And when I found out some of the riders were housed at Xavier University after the Alabama bombings, I knew that the Freedom Rides absolutely had to be the subject of the opera.”

While the opera is steeped in factual details of a historic event, the opera is completely original. It tells the story of a young girl, Sylvie Davenport, a fictional African-American resident of Pontchartrain Park preparing to attend college on scholarship. Torn between pursuing her academic career and joining the Civil Rights Movement, Sylvie’s story of self-realization and love highlights the courage and sacrifice of those who pursue social justice.

“Although much of the achievement of the Civil Rights Movement were accomplished due to the strength, vision and leadership of a core group of dedicated activists, my primary interest in the opera is in the hundreds of volunteers who came from all places and walks of life who made tremendous personal sacrifice,” said Shore.

The XU University Concert Choir, directed by John Ware, will be performing scenes from the opera, which features four professional soloists; faculty member Dara Rahming, Valerie Jones Francis, Chauncey Packer and Anthoney Zoeller as well as faculty member Dr. Wilfred Delphin on piano.