AACMS Raises 'Travel Expenses to Washington DC to Perform Black Classics at the MLK Memorial Concert'

[TOP: Professor Janise White Conducts the AACMS Orchestra CENTER: Composer Howlett Smith at "Glory Hallelujah Variations" Premiere June 2010 BOTTOM: Cellists Nathaniel Ayers and Benton Preciado with Janise White, Conductor, at June 25, 2011 Concert]

John Malveaux of MusicUNTOLD tells AfriClassical:

“Congratulations to Maestro Janise White and the Afro-American Chamber Music Society for a historical achievement. Please see http://www.razoo.com/story/Aacmso:

The Afro-American Chamber Music Society Orchestra has been invited to perform the "Glory Hallelujah Variations" for the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial on August 28, 2011. This is a historic event for the U.S. and nations around the world, as Dr. King’s vision and timeless beliefs continue to resonate with people of all lands. World leaders, civil rights pioneers and thousands of citizens will be present. In 2010, Blind Jazz Pianist, Howlett "Smitty Smith" composed a concerto for Piano and Orchestra commemorating Dr. King's 1963,"I Have A Dream" Speech entitled, "Glory Hallelujah Variations". This work will receive a national premiere at the MLK Memorial Concert in Washington, DC.

The Afro-American Chamber Music Society Orchestra was founded in 1987 by Professor Janise White, Valencia Mitchell and several colleagues from the University of Southern California dedicated to preserving the music of Black Symphonists. Since its inception, over 200 works have been discovered from research at archival collections, libraries and the Library of Congress dating from the 1600s. The orchestrations of historic works, donated scores and many commissioned works by composers of the African diaspora constitute the unique library AACMS has created for live performances. AACMS has toured Southern California's universities and colleges with Ms. Judith Still; appeared with "Roots" author, Alex Haley; Guest Conductors: Michael Morgan, Denis DeCoteau, Kermit Moore; performed for the Medici Awards, Brody Foundation, William Grant Still Anniversary Celebrations, National Baptist Convention, National Assocaition of Negro Musicians Conventions in Atlanta and Virginia, Africa Meets North America Festival at UCLA Schoenberg Auditorium and Dance Theatre of Harlem at USC Bovard Auditorium. Additionally, the AACMS Orchestra has concertized live over KUSC since 1988 and is the only chamber orchestra in California performing works by Black Symphonists exclusively. [William Grant Still (1895-1978) is profiled at AfriClassical.com, which features a comprehensive Works List by Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma, http://www.CasaMusicaledeLerma.com]

Los Angeles Times: 'Nathaniel Ayers plays the Foshay Learning Center'

[Nathaniel Ayers]

On May 27, 2009 AfriClassical posted: “Afro-American Chamber Orchestra & Janise White Present 'Black Symphonists Concert.” Steve Lopez of The Los Angeles Times writes of a school concert at which Janise White invited Nathaniel Ayers to join in performing works of Composers of African Descent:

Los Angeles Times

A love of music brings Nathaniel Ayers out to the Foshay Learning Center to perform with kindred spirits.

By Steve Lopez

June 15, 2011

“I picked him up at 10:30 Monday morning. He was waiting on the sidewalk outside his apartment with a cello, a violin, a guitar, a trumpet, a walking stick and a backpack full of music.

'Good morning, Mr. Ayers.'

'Good morning, Mr. Lopez.'

When Nathaniel Ayers and I go places together, I'm the driver. But he's the talent, as they say, so in a sense, I'm just along for the ride. Such was the case as we headed off to the Foshay Learning Center, a K-12 school near Western Avenue and Exposition Boulevard, where Mr. Ayers was slated to perform.

“A woman named Janise White, whom I'd never met, directs the Afro-American Chamber Music Society Orchestra. She had heard about Mr. Ayers through some colleagues and called me to say she thought it might be nice to play with him at the school concert. I'm like a stage parent in situations like this, thrilled at the opportunity for Mr. Ayers but worried that he'll feel too much pressure, or not find the setting or the vibe to his liking.

“I explained to White that Mr. Ayers is immensely talented but somewhat mercurial, as he has been since leaving the Juilliard School 40 years ago after being diagnosed with schizophrenia. Then there's the fact that he insists on playing instruments other than the one on which he was trained: the upright bass. His musical adventures are often uncharted, I warned. Just bring him along, White said calmly, and they'd work it out.

“The dilapidated Foshay auditorium was shut down for remodeling, so we were led to the music room for a rehearsal. White had not brought her entire orchestra along. Just violinists Phil Johnson and Shigeru Logan and cellist Kevan Torfeh. It occurred to me, as a trained professional observer, that Johnson and Torfeh did not appear to be black, so I wondered how they had landed in the Afro-American Chamber Music Society Orchestra. White isn't particular about the musicians, they said. Her mission, as a music teacher and historian, is to present and preserve compositions by black artists for a broad audience.

“The rehearsal went smashingly well. Mr. Ayers, primarily self-taught on cello, was able to keep up nicely by sight-reading pieces he wasn't familiar with: Sinfonia No. 2 by Chevalier de St. Georges and 'Danse Negre' by Samuel Coleridge Taylor. I had recommended to White that they try 'The Swan' by Camille Saint-Saens, a piece very familiar to Mr. Ayers, and the quintet nailed it. White was smiling and I was breathing easier, slipping into reverie on yet another musical journey with Mr. Ayers.” [Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912) and Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-1799) are profiled at AfriClassical.com]

John Malveaux Makes A Comment On Afro-American Chamber Orchestra Post

Yesterday, AfriClassical posted: “Afro-American Chamber Orchestra & Janise White Present 'Black Symphonists Concert'”. A second comment has been made, this time by John Malveaux: “I attended and greatly appreciated this very important concert to preserve achievements and heighten awareness of composers of African heritage. I noticed musician and composer Jacqueline Hairston, niece of Jester Hairston, also appreciated the presentation. Ms Hairston was the guest of Robert Ball, noted Los Angeles singer and musician associated with NANM. John Malveaux” [The late choral composer Jester Hairston lived from 1901-2000; NANM is The National Association of Negro Musicians, http://www.nanm.org/]

Afro-American Chamber Orchestra & Janise White Present 'Black Symphonists Concert'

[Thomas "Blind Tom" Wiggins (top); Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges, Arion 68093 (center); George Walker (bottom)]

The Afro-American Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Janise White and accompanied by violinist Christopher Woods, presented works of Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges, Tom Bethune and George Walker in a “Black Symphonists Concert” at 5:00 PM on Sunday, May 24, 2009 at Wilshire United Methodist Church, 4350 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California. The concert was supported in part by the Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles.

Afro-American Chamber Orchestra:

The nationally acclaimed orchestra was founded in 1987 by Professors Janise White, Valencia Mitchell, Violists, Robin Ross and the late Patrick Morgan. AACMSO is dedicated to the preservation and performance of music by symphonists of the African diaspora. Since its inception, AACMSO has revived and premiered works by over 200 composers. International Violinist Chris Woods debuted at age twelve with the Florence Symphony, performing the Mozart Concerto in G major. He began musical training on violin at age four, with Thelma Hawkins.

CHEVALIER DE ST. GEORGES: (1745-1799) Virtuoso Violinist, Champion Fencer, Royal Guard, Colonel of the Legion Nationale des Americains et du Midi

GEORGE THEOPHILUS WALKER: (b. 1922) Composer, Pianist, Professor Emeritus Rutgers University, New Jersey; Pulitzer Prize Winner 1996

BLIND THOMAS WIGGINS BETHUNE: (1849-1908) Pianist, Composer

PROGRAM

Symphonie, Op. 11 No. 2....St. GEORGES: I. Allegro Presto, II. Andante, III. Presto

Lyric for strings.....WALKER

Reve Charmant....BETHUNE

JANISE WHITE, PIANIST

CHRISTOPHER WOODS, VIOLINIST