David A. Richardson, Conductor
CHARLESTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA SPIRITUAL ENSEMBLE
Announces 2013-14 Season Honoring the ‘Spiritual’ Opening October 27
Charleston SC August 22, 2013
– The
Charleston Symphony Orchestra (CSO) Spiritual Ensemble, David A. Richardson,
conductor, announces an exciting array of musical programs in
celebration of the ‘spiritual’ and the contributions of African-American
composers, performers, and arrangers in
the classical music lexicon. The Ensemble’s 2013-2014 season will step
off with a performance
Mozart Requiem: An Ode to Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges as part of the inaugural
Colour of Music Festival October 23-27, 2013 followed by the 13th
Annual CSO Gospel Christmas with its sister group the CSO Gospel Choir,
a free Martin Luther King, Jr. tribute in January 2014, an Easter
season performance and appearances
at the Sixth Annual Charleston international Festival of Choirs.
Founded in 2008, the
35-member CSO Spiritual Ensemble honors the “spiritual,” the historical
musical form born of the suffering and endurance of African slaves
after arriving to the southern shores
of this country. The CSO Spiritual Ensemble performs in church
settings, concert stages and beyond, in powerful performances
celebrating the unique, indigenous harmonies that helped form
African-American cultural traditions.
Additional dates are likely to be added throughout the year—performance updates available at www.csospiritual com.
2013-2014 Season Highlights
Saturday, October
27, 2013 the CSO Spiritual Ensemble opens its season as host
organization acknowledging African heritage in classical music with
Mozart Requiem: Ode to Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-1799) an Afro-French composer, violinist and conductor referred to by Europeans as the ‘Black
Mozart’. This performance concludes the Colour of Music Festival,
five-day all-black classical musicians
festival featuring black musicians, vocalists, and orchestra leaders
performing piano, organ, and voice recitals, chamber ensembles and
orchestra and a newly formed Colour of Music Chorale.
Over twenty performances will showcase the influence of blacks on the
classical music world.
On Saturday December 7, 2013, under the direction of Dr. Rollo Dilworth,
the Ensemble joins the CSO Gospel Choir for the 13th Annual CSO Gospel Christmas taking place in West Ashley for the first time in the acoustically perfect Ashley River Baptist
Church.
Not to be missed,
under the direction of David A. Richardson, on Saturday, January 18,
2014 at the renowned Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in N.
Charleston, the Ensemble joins the CSO Gospel Choir
and the Charleston Symphony, in a moving musical portrait honoring Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. This free performance will feature moving
orchestral, spirituals and sacred music selections accompanied by moving
images chronicling the significant contributions
of Dr. King.
Sunday, April 5 the
Ensemble celebrates the Easter Season with a special performance
honoring the legacy of black composer Robert Nathaniel Dett at
Charleston’s Centenary United Methodist Church.
Later that month April 24-27, 2014 the
Sixth Annual Charleston International Festival of Choirs, a
free three-day festival featuring vocal ensembles from across the U.S.
takes place in stunning church settings and concludes with a dramatic
combined Massed Sing performance under the
direction of guest conductor Dr. Greg Jessop.
2013-2014 CSO Spiritual Ensemble Concert Season
Mozart Requiem: An Ode to Le Chevalier de Saint-George
Colour of Music Festival
Sunday, October 27, 2013 • 5pm
Emanuel AME Church, 110 Calhoun Street, Charleston
Tickets: $25
13th Annual Gospel Christmas
with CSO Gospel Choir
Dr. Rollo Dilworth, Conductor
Saturday December 7, 2013 • 7:00pm
Ashley River Baptist Church, 1101 Savannah Highway, West Ashley
Tickets: $30
A Musical Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
With the CSO Gospel Choir and Charleston Symphony Orchestra
David A. Richardson, Conductor
Saturday, January 18, 2014 • 7pm
Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, 7396 Rivers Ave, North Charleston
Free – entry ticket required – donations accepted
Annual Spring Performance Honoring Robert Nathaniel Dett
Saturday, April 5 • 6pm
Centenary United Methodist Church
60 Wentworth Street, Charleston
Tickets: $20 Adult; $10 Student
6th Annual Charleston International Festival of Choirs
Dr. Greg Jessop, Guest Conductor
April 24–27, 2014
Circular Congregational Church, 140 Meeting Street, Charleston
Free – donations accepted
CSO Spiritual Ensemble Tickets and Information
Online: www.csospiritual.com
By phone: (866) 811-4111
At door: (cash or check only) up to one hour before each performance
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