Monday, September 29, 2008

Nathaniel Dett Chorale Opens 84th Season of Muskegon Community Concert Association


The Nathaniel Dett Chorale, Canada's first professional choral group dedicated to Afrocentric music of all styles, including classical, spiritual, gospel, jazz, folk and blues is coming to Muskegon.

Chorale group to perform Friday
Posted by The Muskegon Chronicle September 28, 2008

What: The Nathaniel Dett Chorale
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Where: Frauenthal Theater, 425 W. Western, Muskegon.
Tickets: General admission adult, $30; seniors, $25; students, $5. Season subscriptions: $75 per adult; $15 per student; $165 for two adults and children; $90 for one adult and children. Memberships can be purchased at the Frauenthal Box Office. Individual tickets available 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and prior to performances at the Frauenthal Box Office, at Star Tickets Plus Outlets in Meijer stores, online at www.starticketsplus.com or by calling (231) 727-8001 or (800) 585-3737. Information: (231)722-6520 or http://www.muskegonconcerts.org.

The Nathaniel Dett Chorale, comprised of 21 classically trained vocalists, will kick off Muskegon Community Concert Association's 84th season with a 7:30 p.m. concert Friday at the Frauenthal Theater. The performance is one of many events tied to the Muskegon Area Arts and Humanities Festival, which runs throughout October and has a theme of "tradition and change."

The Chorale's vision is to build bridges of understanding between communities of people, both Afrocentric and other, through its music. The group's mission is to be a premier performer of Afrocentric composers -- past, present and future -- and to educate audiences and communities regarding the full spectrum of Afrocentric choral music.

Founder Brainerd Blyden-Taylor named The Chorale after internationally renowned African-Canadian composer R. Nathaniel Dett (1882-1943), who performed at prestigious concert halls such as Carnegie Hall and Boston Symphony Hall. Dett was dedicated to the cause of Black music, winning the Bowdoin and Francis Boott prizes in 1920 from Harvard University.

Based in Toronto, Ontario, Blyden-Taylor established The Chorale to draw attention not only to Dett's legacy, but also to the wealth of Afrocentric choral music, and to create a professional choral group where persons of African heritage could see themselves represented in the majority. Since its inception in 1998, The Nathaniel Dett Chorale has performed extensively throughout Ontario and the United States in critically acclaimed extended tours. [Full Post]  [R. Nathaniel Dett is profiled at AfriClassical.com]

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