Mezzo Soprano Marietta Simpson & Keyboardist Evelyn Simpson-Curenton in concert at Indiana University at Bloomington, Saturday, June 28, 2014, 8pm

Marietta Simpson

Evelyn Simpson-Curenton

Jeanette M. Pollard writes:

Hello Bill:

 

Just wanted to let you know that the Simpson sisters will be in concert at Indiana University at Bloomington, on Saturday, June 28, 2014, 8pm.  Marietta, Mezzo Soprano, will be a featured soloist, and sister Evelyn will accompany her on keyboards.  The Summer Philharmonic Orchestra concert will be held on campus at the Musical Arts Center.  For more information, please go to the website:

http://www.music.indiana.edu/events/#eyJtb2RlIjoiZG3D%3D.

Thanks.

 

Jeanette

Jeanette M. Pollard, RN, APRN/PMH-BC, M. Div., LNC

John Malveaux: MusicUNTOLD & California State University Los Angeles Agree on Concert January 17, 2015 for 150th Anniversary of 13th Amendment

John Malveaux of 

www.MusicUNTOLD.com writes:

John Malveaux, president of MusicUNTOLD and Dr. John M. Kennedy,  Chair and Professor of Music in Composition and Theory at California State University Los Angeles have reached agreement to co-produce a 150th Anniversary Concert to celebrate passage of the 13th  Amendment - ending slavery in the United States on January 17, 2015 at the Luckman Fine Arts Complex on the campus at CSULA. See attachment. Additional details forthcoming.

John Malveaux

Conductor and Pianist Marlon Daniel Sends Photos of 'The Black Stars of The Great White Way Broadway Reunion' on June 23, 2014 at Carnegie Hall

Marlon Daniel, Conductor and Pianist, www.marlondaniel.com, sends these photos from:  'The Black Stars of The Great White Way Broadway Reunion' on June 23, 2014 at Carnegie Hall

Hannah Kendall Tweets: 'Nice clip of [Anthony McGill] talking about being the 1st African American principal in the 172-year history of the NY Phil' on Tavis Smiley

Anthony McGill

Hannah Kendall @HannahKendall announced on Twitter: Nice clip of @mcgillab talking about being the 1st African American principal in the 172-year history of the NY Phil:

Tavis Smiley Show:

Clarinetist Anthony McGill hails from the South Side of Chicago, which is not usually associated with virtuoso classical musicians. This fall, he’ll become the first African American principal performer in the 172-year history of the New York Philharmonic. He joins us to discuss his rise through the ranks of classical music.

Thursday, July 17: Charleston Symphony Orchestra Spiritual Chorale/I’On Village Summer Concert Series, Mt Pleasant, 'Perilous Story of the Underground Railroad'

June 25, 2014 Charleston SC— The CSO Spiritual Ensemble Chorale, a 28-member vocal group focusing on traditional African-American spirituals, continues the I’On Summer Concert Series on Thursday, July 17 at 7:00pm in a performance entitled No Trouble at the River: The Perilous Story of The Underground Railroad at East Cooper Montessori School, 250 Ponsbury Road, Mount Pleasant, SC. This special performance is part of the I’On Summer Concert Series sponsored by the I’ON Group and I’ON Club.

Guest conductor Michael Scott Giuliani will lead the Chorale in a moving tribute to the escape network of fugitive slaves known as the Underground Railroad formed in the early 19^th century and peaking in the mid-1800’s consisting of meeting points, secret routes and safe houses provided by abolitionist sympathizers. Escaped slaves would move north along the route from one way station to the next. "Conductors" on the railroad came from various backgrounds and included free-born blacks, white abolitionists and former slaves themselves.

Spirituals and other songs helped expressed hope for deliverance from their sorrow, and this performance will weave a number of musical selections including No Trouble at the River, Come Here Jesus if you Please, an ode to those who lost their life running for freedom, Keep Your Lamps among others accompanied by footnotes about the history of this important freedom movement.

“The evolution of American music has roots anchored in the ‘spiritual.’ Opening the series with a chamber trio and chronologically showcasing the spiritual is an fitting way to tell our unique American story,” says Lee Pringle, producer of the concert series.

I’On Village Summer Concert Series

THURSDAY, JULY 17 • 7:00pm

CSO Spiritual Ensemble Chorale

No Trouble at the River: The Perilous Story of the Underground Railroad

Tickets: $20; $10 students at CSOSpiritual.com, (866) 811-411 or at door (cash/check only)

Thursday, June 26, 2014 @ 1 p.m. EST Join TTG+PARTNERS for a conversation about: "Black Men + the Ph.D."

Dr. Y. Sekou Bermiss, @sekoubermiss     

Assistant Professor of Management at the McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin  

Dr. Oscar Holmes IV, @OHIV   

Assistant Professor of Management,

Rutgers University School of Business

 Dr. Bryant T. Marks, @DrBryantMarks

Associate Professor of Psychology, Morehouse College

Executive Director, Morehouse Research Institute

As a follow up to our January 2014 #ttgpchat about "Black Women + the Ph.D." (our most popular discussion to date!),  we're looking to explore some of the challenges Black men continue to face in higher education and in general.  

  

We'll explore:

• More Black men go to prison than college--is this story line true? How to move beyond it?
• More Black women than black men in college--is this narrative helpful or hurtful?
• Do Black men feel isolated in higher education, especially at PWIs?
• Dissecting the Black male athlete narrative
• Plus more! 

Follow the conversation on Twitter. Send in questions and comments using the hashtag #ttgpchat.  

See you there!

Harlem Summer Shakespeare Celebrates 10th Season Of Free Shakespeare In Riverbank State Park With Romeo And Juliet

Part of the HARLEM WEEK CELEBRATIONS, R&J BEGINS

JULY 23 AND CONTINUES THROUGH AUGUST 17 IN THE GLORIOUS RIVERSIDE AMPHITHEATRE OVERLOOKING

THE HUDSON RIVER IN RIVERBANK STATE PARK

(RIVERSIDE DRIVE & 145^th STREET)

        (June 24, 2014: New York City, NY)  The critically acclaimed HARLEM SUMMER SHAKESPEARE will present its 10th season of FREE SHAKESPEARE in Riverbank State Park with ROMEO AND JULIET beginning July 23rd and continuing through August 17th, 2014, with the official opening on July 24^th at 8 pm.  The company will again perform in the Riverside Amphitheatre in Riverbank State Park, Riverside Drive at 145th Street, overlooking the Hudson River.  Performances are Wednesdays through Sundays at 8 PM.

        Riverbank State Park has been so pleased with the Harlem Summer Shakespeare productions, in 2009 they became a co-producer.  "We love being a part of bringing these wonderful productions to our community in Harlem" said Ruth Thomas, head of the Cultural Department of Riverbank State Park.  "People ask us all year what we are going to present this summer."

        Artistic Director Alexa Kelly said: “Continuing our tradition of making Shakespeare a part of today’s world, our production of R&J will be visually contemporary, whilst keeping Shakespeare’s language intact.  The goal of Harlem Summer Shakespeare is to bring Shakespeare to new audiences. In the tradition of the great Joe Papp, we bring live, multi-ethnic theatre, FREE, to families and young people who might not gravitate to or even imagine they would enjoy live theatre—especially not Shakespeare.  We use familiar, contemporary visuals, motifs and sounds, to bring the audience closer to the story being told on stage.  ROMEO AND JULIET will be presented like a crime story in the style of TV’s Law and Order.  As an extra source of contemporary excitement for young people, the clan action will also include some STEPPING (as in Fraternity competition face-offs).

Our production underlines that gang-warfare, people fighting with people exactly like them - without reason or logic - is a universal cause of grief.

In Ruwanda the Hutu were killing the Tutsies despite having lived side by side for centuries.  In the projects, gang members --who have grown up side by side - fight over gang names.  Whether it is the Crips and the Bloods, the Hatfields and the McCoys, or the Capulets and the Montagues, needless death and suffering has been caused by parents who have passed along the legacy of hatred to their children.”

Founded in 1989, Pulse Ensemble Theatre is presenting the 10^th season of Harlem Summer Shakespeare.  Pulse, which is celebrating its 25^th season, is dedicated to making the Classics accessible to young people, to being a training ground for actors, playwrights, and directors and to developing new audiences.  Pulse is also committed to multi-cultural casting.  Pulse runs a weekly Playwrights' Lab. dedicated to developing new American plays and has an active training program for Interns.

Over the past 10 years, HARLEM SUMMER SHAKESPEARE has presented popular and critically acclaimed productions of TWELFTH NIGHT, THE TEMPEST, the ever-popular A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (3 times! by special request from the Park), ROMEO AND JULIET, MACBETH,  and AS YOU LIKE IT set in the NJ  Mafia world. The New York Times said of the company’s first production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM:  “The audience – which did not resemble any audience I have seen at the Delacorte or any other mainstream Shakespeare venue—obviously loved it!”  The 2007 production of THE TEMPEST, where Izod shirts replaced Elizabethan ruffs, continued the company’s tradition of making Shakespeare immediate and accessible to audiences new to Shakespeare as well as to those familiar with the Bard.  MACBETH was set in Afghanistan, and critically proclaimed "an extraordinarily innovative production".  The Village Voice said of our MIDSUMMER... touring Harlem Shakespeare production that "even when the Mr. Softee truck came by, the children sat transfixed and did not leave--high praise indeed!"

        ROMEO AND JULIET, directed by Alexa Kelly, will feature several actors returning to Harlem Summer Shakespeare after working in regional theatres around the country and in Europe.  The production features Stella Heath as Juliet, (Orlando Shakespeare Festival, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, Beijing Shakespeare Festival); Jordan Bellow as Romeo (South Coast Repertory Players); Thia Stephan as Lady Capulet (Brunswick Square Theatre, London, Boomerang Th. NYC, Puck/Harlem Summer Shakespeare); Marina Barry as Nurse (Asolo Theatre); Michael Gilpin as Friar (Bottom & Petruchioi/Harlem Summer Shakespeare); Brian Richardson as Lord Capulet (Metropolitan Playhouse, Barter Theatre, Bristol Riverside Theatre, Macbeth &  Malvolio/Harlem Summer Shakespeare), Jonathan Hicks as Mercutio (Milwaukee Rep., Chicago Shakespeare, Colorado Shakespeare); Karim Sekou as Paris, (Classical Theatre of Harlem, Titania/Harlem Summer Shakespeare); Colleen McGloin as Benvolio, John L. Payne as Prince; James Ross as Balthasar; Ricardy Fabre as Gregory; Gregory Cioffi as Samson; Kim Rachelle Harris as Montague (Shenandoah Music Theatre, York Theatre, Mill Mountain Playhouse), and Israel Gutierrez as Tybalt (Virginia Shakespeare. Marvell Rep).

        Alexa Kelly is the creator of, and has directed all ten of, Harlem Summer Shakespeare's critically acclaimed productions. She said “I am thrilled that HSS has such a large neighborhood following, and that it also attracts loyal audiences from all over Manhattan and the boroughs.  Our productions are free, so young people and senior citizens (among others) can see the show again and again, and they do!  Last year one senior citizen brought her teenage grandson to see the show every day, and said that she looked forward to it all year!” 

        Ms. Kelly, the co-founder (in 1989), and Artistic Director of Pulse Ensemble Theatre said "We love that we filled a void for FREE theatre in Harlem 10 years ago, when there was no free theatre in Harlem at all. We have spread the glory of live theatre and Shakespeare to thousands of people who might never have known what fun it could be.  This is a very special anniversary year for Shakespeare, and we are proud that it is a very special tenth anniversary year for us!"

        ROMEO & JULIET has costume design by David Anthony Crowley with lighting design by Steve O'Shea, scenic design by Bob Miller, fight choreography by Joseph Pisapia, and sound design by Brian Richardson.   

       

This production is made possible with the help of Riverbank State Park, New York State Council on the Arts, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, Councilman Robert Jackson & NYC Council District 7.

For additional information, visit www.pulseensembletheatre.org or call (212) 695-1596.

OFF-BROADWAY THEATRE & FREE EVENTS LISTING INFO

ROMEO AND JULIET – Harlem Summer Shakespeare’s 10^th season in Riverbank State Park begins FREE performances of Shakespeare’s enduring romance/tragedy ROMEO AND JULIET on July 23^rd at 8 PM and continues through August 17^th.  Performances Wednesdays through Sundays at 8 PM.  Outdoors in the Amphitheatre in Riverbank State Park, 145^th Street & Riverside Drive.  Official opening: July 24 at 8 pm

Take #1 train to 145th street, walk one block west towards the Hudson River and into Riverbank State Park. Or take #11 bus or #BX19 bus to Riverbank State Park.

Amphitheatre seating, feel free to bring a pillow.

'150th Anniversary Emancipation Proclamation Concert included Sanford Allen performance of composer Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson Blues/s Forms for Solo Violin'

John Malveaux of 

www.MusicUNTOLD.com writes:

The 150th Anniversary Emancipation Proclamation Concert of September 22, 2013 included Violinist Sanford Allen performance of composer Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson Blues/s Forms for Solo Violin

1. Plain Blues/s

2. Just Blues/s

3. Jettin' Blues/s

All movements recorded by Sanford Allen on Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson: A Celebration. 

 

Please see 3 video set: 

2012 150th Emancipation Proclamation concert - YouTube

 

Thanks,

John Malveaux

Eric Conway: Day 2 of 2014 Morgan State University Choir Visit to Belarus

Eric Conway, D.M.A.:

Today we had a very relaxing day in Belarus before our big independence day presentation this evening!

When we arrived in Belarus yesterday, we were surprised at the cool temperature for the first day of summer, even for a country north of the Ukraine.  We knew that it would be cooler than Baltimore, but didn't know that we would see highs in the mid 60s with lows in the low 40s.  We were told this evening that it was hot last week, but these mild temperatures are cool even for Belarus this time of the year.  The temperature could have felt okay, but with the extreme wind that we felt, it was a bit chilly.  I warned everyone that it could be at least twenty degrees cooler than home, but we still were not ready after leaving consistent temperatures in the low hundreds only weeks earlier in the Middle East.

My colleague at Morgan, Max Hilaire our political science chair, reminded me that Belarus has the distinction of being the last dictatorship in Europe.  This means that this is a police-state.  Everything that we do can be potentially recorded.  After speaking with our guide, Yuri, he said that generally-speaking the people can do as they please, however, there are some things that they just know that they cannot do.  Everyone is very polite and respectful of each other and the laws.

One other item of note was the conversion of US dollars to Belarusian rubles.  Every US dollar is equal to ten thousand rubles.  This meant that one US hundred dollars converted to one million rubles!  Many of us felt rich as we were millionaires of a sort.  Every priced item, we had to divide by 10,000 - which has became very easy by the end of the day.

We met as a group at 9:30 a.m., after breakfast, to talk with the Embassy Security Officer Andrea Gastaldo of New York giving us information to stay out of harm's way.   She mentioned that this is a much safer place than any US urban metropolis, but still take general precautions as one would do for any urban environment.

We had no commitments until this evening at 4PM. Many stayed in bed to catch on sleep lost in the travel to Belarus.  We were impressed with our hotel in giving all the guests free internet in their rooms.  The connection was quite stable given that we were in a socialist society.  Lunch was on our own.  A few went to McDonalds which was insanely crowded, everyone clamoring to taste a bit of the American life!  It happened to be right across from T.G.I.Fridays.  It was good to see American based chains in Belarus. It was also good to see life in Belarus as we walked along the the main avenue in Minsk.  We also were reminded of the poverty in this city as we saw local pan-handlers in the underground corridors under the streets.

At 4PM we travelled to the Embassy of Belarus. Due to an estranged relationship between the Belarus and United States, there is no US Ambassador to Belarus, however, the chief diplomatic officer for the United States, a step down from Ambassador, is called a Chargé d'Affaires, a French term meaning in charge of matters.   The Chargé d'Affaires in Belarus is Ethan Goldrich from New York.  He hosted an Belarus Independence day event for every VIP associated with this US Embassy.  Several ambassadors from other countries attended this event including ambassadors from South Africa, India, Great Britain to name a few that I met.  This was undeniably the biggest event of the year for the Embassy, and they asked the Morgan State Choir to sing!

Coincidentally the wife of the  Chargé d'Affaires was from Baltimore. Upon meeting her I found out that she was from Pikesville, and attended the same high school that I attended, Randallstown High School, seven years after I graduated.  We had much to talk about after the event. Her name was Randi Goldrich.  I also found out that she was a FaceBook friend of my brother Michael who graduated three years after I did.  Also coincidentally, three days after this event, Ethan and Randi Goldrich will be transferred to a city that we just left Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.  They were very interested in my impressions of the city, country and culture.  These coincidences all confirmed my suspicion that we were right were we needed at this point in time.

During the event, we opened the evening with our National Anthem.  The Charge d'Affaires gave the choir warm words of welcome sharing with the audience the special relationship of Baltimore and our National Anthem.  Of all the ambassador's residences where we have performed, this was the first where the local country's national anthem was not performed.  I asked about this matter and was told that again due to strained relations between the two countries, that their national anthem was not be played or performed.  After a short fifteen minute program by the host,  the choir was introduced and sang a three song set that was warmly received.  The entire event felt very familiar as we sang for a similar event in the summer of 2012 in Jamaica at the residence of Ambassador Pamela Bridgewater.  Without a doubt, when an Ambassador or like throws a party, you can count on the food and drink being extraordinary.  The entire choir was invited to join the guests and enjoy the party.  We had a grand time, and felt genuinely appreciated by all who came in contact with us.

******************

Eric Conway, D.M.A.

Fine and Performing Arts Department, Chair

Morgan State University

1700 East Cold Spring Lane

Carl Murphy Fine Arts Center, Room 329C

Baltimore, MD 21251

Eric Conway: Morgan State University Choir in Belarus for Performance, Will Also Visit Montenegro

Eric Conway, D.M.A.:

Hello everyone, we're back!

On Sunday, June 22, 2014, at 5:35 p.m. the Morgan State University began our second tour this summer.  The choir received two grants from two countries in Eastern Europe - Belarus and Montenegro.  The choir originally received an invitation from the Embassy in Montenegro to come to their country to lead in a 4th of July celebration in that country.   Upon securing funding for our visit, the Montenegro Embassy invited other consulates to participate in this exchange opportunity. The consulate from not to distant Belarus decided to also prepare the way for the choir to share our music as well.  They arranged for the choir to visit Belarus prior to flying to Montenegro  - thus we are now in Belarus. These grants cover the ENTIRE costs of the tour, plus some money for choir after expenses - the way it should be!

We left Dulles airport again, this time at 5:30 p.m. rather than late evening as in previous international flights.  We flew for the first time on Austrian Airlines, partner of Lufthansa.  Due to budgetary constraints, this tour group could only total twenty.  Of the twenty, only eighteen flew out with the group, as two members of this group were selected to participate in this year's installment of the national HBCU choir: 105 voices of History at the Kennedy Center.  This recently iconic event took place the very day that we left, Sunday, June 22 at 4PM.  As always, Morgan represented well, with solos in some of the music performed at the Kennedy Center stage.  

We had a brief transfer in Vienna, Austria, and then on to Minsk, Belarus, the capital city of Belarus.  All passengers and luggage arrived safely.  Although we did not have any items confiscated like in Muscat, Oman, one of the choir members was detained for over forty minutes because they suspected that the passport was not legitimate, although she applied and received her passport just this past May 2014. This incident was not so surprising as we made application to receive visas to enter the this country formerly under Communist rule.

Belarus is an interesting country.  Many of you know that many of the political boundaries in the Eurasia region have often change quite frequently, depending on who was ruling at the time.  Belarus used to be a part of the old Soviet Empire, Prussia, Poland, Lithuania, and USSR.   Belarus is east of Poland, west of Russia, north of Ukraine, and south of Lithuania.  After the Russian revolution in 1917, the current boundaries were created. As recently as 1991, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Belarus finally became its own sovereign country.  Therefore, Belarus is very young country as it now stands. 

I found it intriguing when some locals at the airport referred to themselves not as Belarusians but Bela-Russians!  I understood from our guide that generally speaking they preferred to be called Belarusians and distant themselves from their Giant neighbor.  

I am no expert on Belarus, but when you travel to different countries, you might as well learn a thing or two about their culture and history - so I am just sharing.

We are seven hours ahead of EST once again, but not in the Middle East but in Eastern Europe.  We have no performances today, given that we just arrived this afternoon at 3PM.  We will have our first performance tomorrow for the Minsk US Consulate for Belarus' equivalent of our Independence Day.    

*****************

Eric Conway, D.M.A.

Fine and Performing Arts Department, Chair

Morgan State University

1700 East Cold Spring Lane

Carl Murphy Fine Arts Center, Room 329C

Baltimore, MD 21251