David A. Richardson
January 28, 2016 Charleston SC—The
Charleston Spiritual Ensemble, a 35-member vocal group focusing
on traditional African-American spirituals, joins members of the
Charleston Gospel Choir in honor of African-American History Month on
Sunday, February 28, 2016 with a unique musical performance entitled
Jews & Blacks: Parallels of Our Past.
The event will take place at 5:00pm at
Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim (KKBE), 90 Hasell Street, downtown Charleston.
Music Director
David A. Richardson will lead the group in a moving tribute to the
history of Black-Jewish encounters in America over the past five
decades, in particular the role of the organized Jewish community in the
civil rights movement and their natural alliance
in the battle for civil rights. This communal relationship supported
both Black and Jewish agendas to combat hatred and discrimination
through social action and make common cause toward greater rights for
all minorities.
Spirituals
and other songs including sacred and folk songs were commonly performed
during the height of the civil rights movement. This music expressed
how strife was soothed by call and response singing that was the norm
on southern plantations throughout the South during slavery. The
performance’s selections will be accompanied by historical footnotes
from Dr. Karen A. Chandler of the College of Charleston.
Charleston Spiritual
Ensemble President and event producer Lee Pringle says, “This concert
is autobiographical as my parents greatly benefitted from the kindness
of the Jewish community when they migrated
to Harlem and later to Spring Valley, New York in the early 1960s from
the Jim Crow South. The manner in which Jews treated our family was
never forgotten.” Pringle later join a group of progressive Jews and
Blacks,
The African-American Jewish Connection (AAJC), which was among
the first organized groups to call for the removal of the Confederate
Flag from the South Carolina State House in 1991.
David A. Richardson,
Director says, “The Spiritual was and is a powerful method to protest
peacefully. Fifty years after landmark civil rights advances it’s still
important to remind adults and teach our children
about our parallel past. Music is a wonderful way to chronicle history
and I am honored to be a part of this important event.”
Free Symposium Wednesday, February 24:
Jews and Blacks Parallels of Our Past
A free colloquium featuring Charleston-area Jewish and Black leaders will take place in advance of the performance
Wednesday, February 24 at 6:00pm at the Charleston County Main Library Auditorium.
Learn more about the
relationship of the Jewish and Black communities in the historical
context both nationally as part of the civil rights movement and locally
in the Charleston community. The event will
feature remarks by Marty Perlmutter, Director of Jewish Studies and Dr.
Bernard Powers, Professor of African-American Studies at the College of
Charleston, Eileen Chepenick, former Executive Director of the
Charleston Chapter of Operation Understanding and
others. Free and open to the public
Performance Tickets/Information
Sunday, February 28, 2016 • 5:00pm
Jews & Blacks: Parallels of Our Past
Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, 90 Hasell Street, downtown Charleston
General Admission tickets: $20 adults; children or students $10 with ID
About the Charleston Spiritual Ensemble
Now in its eighth
year, the Charleston Spiritual Ensemble is a 35-member vocal group based
in Charleston focusing on African-American spirituals and sacred and
black classical contributions to musical music.
The Ensemble’s core musical offering honors the devout musical
tradition that African-Americans formed as slaves after arriving in this
country and in particular its relevant history in South Carolina. The
spiritual has shaped and inspired the evolution of
classically trained African-American composers and arrangers.
About Music Director David A. Richardson
A
recipient of the prestigious Charleston Southern University Horton
School of Music Senior Excellence Award for his exceptional work in the
area of Choral Music Education, Mr.
Richardson is a noted baritone soloist who has garnered the admiration
of the choral community throughout the Carolinas. He serves as Music
Director of the Charleston Gospel Choir, now in its 15th season, and the
Charleston Spiritual Ensemble. As a professional
vocalist, he toured the United Kingdom, Scotland, Austria, and Prague,
where he performed with the CSU concert choir to much acclaim.
An
accomplished pianist, Mr. Richardson has served as Music Director for
several regional productions and has accompanied choral programs and
honor choirs at all levels, including
three seasons with the University Children’s Choir. Mr. Richardson
serves as Director of the Vocal Music Arts program at Rollings Middle
School of the Art and is the former Director of Choral Activities at
Fort Dorchester High School and Band Director and
Music Specialist in the Berkeley County School District.
Mr.
Richardson is the Director of Vocal Music for the annual Charleston
Southern University Music Camp and the Oconee County Choral Festival. In
addition, Mr. Richardson has conducted
performances with orchestra including Mozart’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, Martini’s
Domine Adjuvandum Me Festina, and Telemann’s Jehovam Omnes Gentes
with chamber orchestra and is an accomplished organist and pianist. Mr.
Richardson earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education with voice
emphasis from Charleston Southern University.
He is currently a candidate for the Master of Music Education degree at
Kent State University.
Comment by email:
Yes! What specific songs/pieces will be performed during the program? Thanks
John Malveaux
