Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra Caps First Season with 'Tribute to American Composers' May 29


[Jeri Lynne Johnson, Founder and Music Director, Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra]

The Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra Closes its Successful Inaugural Season with a Tribute to American Composers.
Philadelphia, PA - April 26, 2010 - The Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra will present the final concert of its Inaugural Season "America's Classical Masters" on May 29, 2010, 7 pm at The Baptist Temple in partnership with the Art Sanctuary's Celebration of Black Writing Festival. This FREE concert will present works by American composers Copland, Marsalis, Walker, and Bloch. Special guests include The Rodney Mack Philadelphia Big Brass.

Ticket info:
Reservations are Recommended
Logon to: http://www.blackpearlco.org to reserve free tickets

About the Concert
Philadelphia's first multi-ethnic professional orchestra, the Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra led by Music Director and Founder Jeri Lynne Johnson, is delighted to present its America's Classical Masters concert at the historic and newly renovated Baptist Temple in Philadelphia at the heart of Temple University's Main Campus. With this performance, the BPCO is honored to be part of the Art Sanctuary's 26th Annual Celebration of Black Writing Festival, May 19-29, 2010, which deepens the city's literary life and polishes its tourist shine with a rich infusion of African American writers in all genres.

The BPCO's world-class musicians will perform works that showcase the variety and brilliance of American composers from throughout the nation's history. Music of Dr. George Walker, the first Black composer to win a Pulitzer Prize and a stunning new work by master jazz teacher Ellis Marsalis will be performed alongside Aaron Copland's elegiac and powerful Quiet City and Ernst Bloch's exuberant Concerto Grosso #1.

After intermission, The Rodney Mack Philadelphia Big Brass will take the stage with works by celebrated African American composer, and Philadelphia native, Francis Johnson and other fantastic big brass music for a rousing close to the final concert of the BPCO's inaugural season.

The evening's program includes:

-Aaron Copland - Quiet City
Featuring Geoffrey Deemer, english horn and Rodney Mack, trumpet

-Ernst Bloch - Concerto Grosso #1

-Ellis Marsalis - Fourth Autumn for Trumpet and Orchestra Featuring Rodney Mack, trumpet

-George Walker - Lyric for Strings

-Selections by Francis Johnson and other music performed by The Rodney Mack Philadelphia Big Brass [Francis B. Johnson (1792-1844) and George Walker (b. 1922) are profiled at AfriClassical.com]





1 comment:

msladyDeborah said...

I just finished listening to BPCO on You Tube. Very impressive! I would love to be able to see them perform.

I really enjoy reading AfriClassical. It provides me with so much information.