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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