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The Sacramento Youth Symphony’s Premier Orchestra will perform a major community concert event celebrating the ongoing contributions by African-Americans to our country’s artistic landscape.  Musical selections will include celebrated works by Duke Ellington, William Grant Still, Emmy Award-winning composer John Wineglass, and much more. An impressive roster of guest artists will join the orchestra on-stage for this special event.

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See below for our tentative program.

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Planning Committee

Michael Neumann

Omari

Tau

Julian

Dixon

Sheryl

Counter

Robert

Vann

Sponsors

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Gold Sponsor

Robert Vann

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Silver Sponsor: In honor of

our guest performers and speakers

Center for Spiritual Awareness

Silver Sponsor

Dream Variations: A Symphonic Celebration of the African- American Experience

Artistic Director and Conductor-Michael Neumann

Emcee-Omari Tau

Guest Artists in order of appearance: Jay Mason, Courtney Dempsey, Chase Spruill, IV, Indigo Moor, Julian Dixon, Portia Njoku,

Leslie Sandefur, Rick Jennings, II, and Sheryl Counter.

 

Lift Every Voice and Sing                                                                                           James Weldon Johnson

Medley                                                                                                                         Duke Ellington

Afro-American Symphony                                                                                         William Grant Still

     Moderato assai and Adagio

               Conductor—Jay Mason

 

Guest speaker                                                                                                             Courtney Dempsey

 

Suite for Violin and Orchestra                                                                                   William Grant Still

               Violin Soloist—Chase Spruill, IV

               Conductor—Jay Mason

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                                                                          Intermission

 

Portraits of A theme Overture                                                                                  John Wineglass

 

“The Homecoming”

Based on Aaron Douglas's "Painting Aspect of Negro Life #62"                        Indigo Moor

               Read by Indigo Moor from his book Through the Stonecutter's Window

 

"Elegy for a King” For Tuba Quartet                                                                         Portia Njoku

               Conductor—Julian Dixon                                                                                                          

 

Variations on Amazing Grace for Solo Tuba  Arranged by Richard Rosolino, [Edited by Chris Hendricks]

                Soloist—Julian Dixon

              

Rag Time Dance                                                                                                          Scott Joplin 1867-1917

Arranged for Brass

               Conductor—Julian Dixon

 

Can’t Help Lovin’ that Man of mine (Showboat)                                                     Jerome Kern

Summertime’ (Porgy and Bess)                                                                                G. and I. Gershwin

A Real Slow Drag (Treemonisha)                                                                              Scott Joplin              

               Soprano Soloist—Leslie Sandefur

 

Guest Speaker                                                                                                             Rick Jennings, II

 

Songs with Unity Festival Choir                                                                                TBA

            Conductor—Sheryl Counter

Final remarks and “We Shall Overcome”                                                                Michael Neumann

Interested in becoming a sponsor for this event? Click Here.

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