Sergio Mims: Chineke! Orchestra Stephen Lawrence Day, Queen Elizabeth Hall April 22

Sergio A. Mims writes:

The Chineke! Orchestra will perform on the first desalinated Stephen Lawrence Day in the UK in a special concert at Queen Elizabeth Hall at the Southbank Centre In London on Monday April 22 starting at 7:30 PM.

Lawrence was a black British teenager from south east London, who was murdered in a racially motivated attack while waiting for a bus on the evening of 22 April 1993.

https://www.chineke.org/events/2019/4/22/chineke-marks-stephen-lawrence-day?fbclid=IwAR1ZP0RWTJ96NWuzcp2wcvCK1fewh3gWGxNpdMZSAj6p-S_dqq_l7BbGqIM

Chineke.org

Errollyn Wallen: Concerto Grosso for violin, double bass & piano
Philip Herbert: Elegy: in memoriam, Stephen Lawrence
Jessie Montgomery: Starburst
Avril Coleridge-Taylor: Sussex Landscape, Op.27
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Beethoven: Symphony No.8

The orchestra marks the first Stephen Lawrence Day, held on the anniversary of the teenager's murder in 1993, with a concert of works by BME composers, concluding with Beethoven’s Eighth Symphony. Conductor Michael Morgan makes his Chineke! debut. Preceding the concert will be a panel discussion at 5 pm, on the subject of social injustice, gang culture and racial inequality.

Chineke! Orchestra performs Errollyn Wallen's upbeat Concerto Grosso for piano, violin and double bass, Philip Herbert's Elegy, written in memory of Lawrence and featuring an orchestra of 18 string players – one for each year of his life, and the sparkling Starburst by the young American composer, Jessie Montgomery. Avril Coleridge-Taylor’s Sussex Landscape receives a rare performance, an expansive reflection on the beauty of that part of southern England where she spent the final years of her life.

Beethoven's joyous Eighth Symphony rounds off the evening.

Chineke! has recorded the works by Wallen and Herbert which will be released by NMC Recordings later this year. This new album will also include the music of other BME composers whom Chineke! has championed over the past three years.

The panel talk at 5 pm will be moderated by Emma Dabiri, Social Historian, Writer & Broadcaster with a distinguished panel of speakers including Imran Khan QC; Dean Atta, poet and writer of 'I am Nobody's Nigger' following murder of Stephen Lawrence; Gus Nwanokwu, teacher, manager & author of Black Shamrocks, Sophie Linden (Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime); Chi-chi Nwanoku double bassist, Founder, Artistic & Executive Director Chineke!

Performers

Chineke! Orchestra

Michael Morgan conductor

Kelly-Hall Tompkins violin

Chi-chi Nwanoku OBE double bass

Rebeca Omordia piano

The Chineke! Junior Orchestra will also be marking the day with a performance at 3.30pm. Click here for more details (free entry).