Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Brazeal Dennard Chorale, Tenor Rodrick Dixon & Soprano Alfreda Burke Headline April 13, 2013 Legacy Concert at Orchestra Hall, Detroit



Dr. Augustus Hill

Award-winning Brazeal Dennard Chorale, internationally acclaimed tenor Rodrick Dixon and soprano Alfreda Burke headline April 13 Legacy Concert at Orchestra Hall

DETROIT/Feb. 10, 2013—The award-winning Brazeal Dennard Chorale, directed by Dr. Augustus Hill, will present its third annual Legacy Concert on April 13 at Orchestra Hall. The concert will celebrate the musical legacy of African Americans featuring sacred Negro spirituals performed by the Brazeal Dennard Chorale and special performances by tenor Rodrick Dixon and soprano Alfreda Burke.

“We welcome all segments of our community to celebrate the rich legacy of African American music and Negro spirituals," said Hill, who directed the Chorale's gold and silver medal performances at the 2012 World Choir Games.  “Through this concert we will continue the Chorale’s mission and connect the sacred art form of Negro spirituals with music lovers of today.”
 
An added special attraction will be the appearance of Dixon, who possesses a tenor voice of extraordinary range and versatility that has earned him the respect and attention of leading conductors, orchestras, and opera companies throughout North America. Dixon is a fan favorite across metropolitan Detroit for his past performances in the area, including concerts of “Too Hot To Handel” at the Detroit Opera House.


During the Legacy Concert Dixon will perform an array of selections while accompanied on the piano by Detroit’s own Alvin Waddles, who has thrilled fans with performances at a variety of musical events including the Detroit International Jazz Festival and the Detroit Festival of the Arts.   Dixon’s segment of the program also will feature selections performed with his wife, Burke, including the stirring spiritual “Witness.”  In addition, Dixon will blend his vocal virtuosity with the Chorale on spiritual arrangements directed by Hill.    

“The Legacy Concert will be a rich and wonderful presentation of Negro spirituals,” said Dixon, whose celebrated career also includes extensive theater and television credits. “Artists such as the singers of the Brazeal Dennard Chorale, soprano Alfreda Burke and pianist Alvin Waddles will excite and thrill audiences with powerful stories told through the genre of spirituals. I can’t wait.” 

Like Dixon, Burke has vast international music experience, including concert performances throughout North America and Europe.

“I look forward to being part of this wonderful musical experience, “ said Burke, whose body of work also includes recordings, music videos, television, radio and film.  “The Brazeal Dennard Chorale Legacy Concert will surely uplift, inspire, energize and transport all who attend.  The rich heritage, power and pathos of the Negro spiritual is always deeply moving and never disappoints.”

Tickets for the 4 p.m. performance are $50 (box seats); $30 (general admission); and $20 (balcony); and can be purchased by contacting the Chorale office at 313-331-0378 or 313-823-5278.  Brazeal Dennard Chorale Legacy Concert tickets also are available through the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Box Office at 313-576-5111.  Orchestra Hall is located at 3711 in Midtown Detroit.

“We plan on making musical history on April 13, when the immense talents of Rodrick Dixon, Alfreda Burke and Alvin Waddles share the stage with the Chorale,” said Chorale executive director Don Robinson. “We have a program planned of the highest musical quality and we encourage our supporters to bring a family member or friend, so that the music of our ancestors can be appreciated by new audiences.”

About the Brazeal Dennard Chorale:  Named after its legendary founder, the late Brazeal Dennard, the Brazeal Dennard Chorale’s mission is to “remember, discover, preserve, and share the Negro spiritual as a part of the artistic community, and to rediscover and perform significant choral works by African American composers.” To learn more, please visit www.brazealdennardchorale.org.

About Alfreda Burke and Rodrick Dixon:  Alfreda Burke and Rodrick Dixon have brought the story of their lives to the stage through “Songs of a Dream,” which takes audiences on a musical journey of their love story and professional revelations.  From Verdi and Puccini to Gershwin, Bernstein and Lloyd Webber, and lots in between, Burke and Dixon have presented secular and sacred recitals worldwide. “Songs of a Dream” weaves the artists’ personal experiences from television appearances, opera companies, symphonies, Broadway and church. “Songs of a Dream” is available for booking in 2013 and beyond through the Auditorium Theatre. For information contact Kathy Bliss at (312)341-2365 or kbliss@auditoriumtheatre.org


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