48th Music Kitchen Performance: 'Overboard Vocals' from Boston Dec. 2, 2010

[48th Music Kitchen Performance: “Overboard Vocals” from Boston Dec. 2, 2010]

Violinist Kelly Hall-Tompkins, Founder and President of Music Kitchen: Food for the Soul sends AfriClassical word of the 48th Music Kitchen Performance: “Overboard Vocals,” a male a cappella group which performed at Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen on Dec. 2, 2010:

“A Pop Male Vocal Sextet

This morning, in the spirit of presenting excellent examples of chamber music from diverse traditions, I was very pleased to present the a cappella male vocal group 'Overboard' from Boston. Nick from the group originally emailed me following one of last season's press coverage articles. While I cannot possibly present all of the artists who contact me, some stand out and inspire me right away as something Music Kitchen audiences would enjoy and I am pleased when I have the resources to act on that inspiration and hire them. Overboard was just such a group: not only do they have an enormous repertoire that spans doo-wop to motet to R&B to standards, but their artistic excellence is a hallmark of their impact. Their songs are beautifully arranged, harmonized and performed.

“Plus they vocally produce instrumental sounds such as percussion that were good enough to fool my exceptionally talented professional percussionist husband. As always, the bustling Holy Apostles environment proves challenging acoustically, and the Overboard group was already down one singer who was away singing with the Boston Pops (the group expertly revised their arrangements to cover the missing 6th voice). But still the group won over the diners at the Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen, one by one. There was an interesting twist on the exuberant responses and outbursts: when people are responding positively to instrumental chamber music, there's little that they can do to join in the music making. But make it a familiar doo-wop song from the 1950s and suddenly everyone is Frankie Valli!

"'Oh, No, no, no, please don't leave me!' a powerful voice belted, savoring the song, long after it had ended and just as Overboard was about to take a breath to start the next one. That happened more and more as their set went on; added harmonies could also be heard at various points in the room. This is the first time I decided to employ the more central and elevated stage (altar) area of the floor, since there were no instruments to contend with. They definitely made an impact there, with many listening and cheering them on from the closest spots to the music. But again, since there were no instruments involved, I thought it would be neat to have the singers go down amongst the listeners with their expressive singing and perfectly terraced harmonies. That proved to be a great idea as so many of the listeners loved having the music closer to them. One man was clearly transported to another era of his life as he listened, blocking everyone else out but the voices, unabashedly moving swaying and sometimes singing along with the music. Many listeners caught my eye to give me a thumbs up and as usual, several men thanked me for bringing such wonderful music to the shelter.”

Lead Performers in Scott Joplin's 'Treemonisha' rehearse 'under the skillful guidance of Opera Boston and Mssng Lnks'

[Jermaine Tulloch and Anita Murrell rehearse for the opera “Treemonisha,” which will be held April 29-30 and May 1. (The Boston Globe)]

The Boston Globe

Boston.com

Lawrence Harmon

Lights on Dudley Square

“Artists and residents are discovering a cultural gem in Roxbury

March 27, 2011

YOU CAN’T tell people where to go to have fun, and each night an entertainment exodus takes place from Roxbury and other minority neighborhoods in Boston.”

“But there is a first-rate performance facility in Roxbury’s Dudley Square, the gateway to the city’s minority neighborhoods. Hibernian Hall is a four-story, paneled brick building that served as a social hall for the city’s Irish population during the first half of the 20th century.”

“Some artists and residents are discovering this gem. On a recent Friday night, a rehearsal for the Boston premiere of Scott Joplin’s opera, 'Treemonisha,’ was wrapping up at the same time that DJs were setting up for a big crowd at the Funkadelic Retro Throwback dance party in the grand ballroom.” “Where else in Boston could 40 vocalists, mostly teens, be close to home while rehearsing and performing an opera by an African-American ragtime composer? And all under the skillful guidance of Opera Boston and Mssng Lnks, a nonprofit group that trains talented minority students for careers in classical vocal music.

“Joplin’s storyline isn’t lost on the performers, who stand out from many of their peers, at least in terms of musical taste. Treemonisha, the opera’s heroine, is an educated, 18-year-old black woman who returns to her Arkansas plantation, where she struggles, suffers, and eventually prevails in her attempt to overcome her neighbor’s ignorance and superstition.

“Soprano Anita Murrell of Dorchester and countertenor Jermaine Tulloch of Mattapan, both 24, play the leads. They followed similar paths through Boston Arts Academy and the Longy School of Music. Feeling like outcasts in the land of rap didn’t really bother them. The greater challenge is trying to compete with singers who, unlike them, were immersed in classical music and introduced to composers from an early age. 'No matter how hard you try, you’re always playing catch-up,’ said Tulloch.” [Scott Joplin (1868-1917) was a Ragtime and Classical composer who is profiled at AfriClassical.com]

WBUR: 'Changing The Stereotype Of Classical Music'; Hear Interview With Aaron Dworkin

[Violinist Aaron Dworkin in WBUR's Studio 4 (Kirk Carapezza for WBUR)]

WBUR.org [Click for link to audio of radio interview (4:12)]

BOSTON — Aaron Dworkin is a rarity in the classical music world: he’s a black violinist.

Fifteen years ago, he founded the Sphinx Organization, a Detroit-based nonprofit group that tries to increase racial and ethnic diversity in classical music. It especially wants to encourage African-Americans and Latinos to get into the field, and to develop musical talent in children.

Since its founding, the Sphinx Organization has worked with more than 85,000 students in about 175 schools nationwide, and the number of minority musicians in U.S. orchestras has doubled — an increase Dworkin believes is due in part to his group’s work.

Dworkin visited Boston Friday to receive a teaching award from Harvard, and WBUR’s All Things Considered host Sacha Pfeiffer spoke with him about his efforts to change the perception of classical music. [Aaron Dworkin (b. 1970) is profiled at AfriClassical.com and has a personal website, http://www.AaronDworkin.com]