The Kimmel Center Honors Dr. Martin Luther King with Music, Song and Dance
Hundreds Attend Free Tribute Performance on King’s Birthday
January 15, 2003
The Kimmel Center Youth Jazz Ensemble honors Dr. Martin Luther King with a special rendition of "Happy Birthday."
The Kimmel Center Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute featured performances by The Kimmel Center Youth Jazz Ensemble; D/2, the apprentice company of PHILADANCO; and the Philadelphia school district’s Girard Academic Music Program (GAMP) and High School for the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA). Selections from King’s speeches were played between musical numbers.
"In his most famous speech, Dr. King talked about his dream that one day we would all learn to judge people by the way they act, not the way they look," said The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts President and CEO Janice Price, addressing the audience of several hundred Philadelphia area middle school students. "Here at The Kimmel Center, we believe that the performing arts help us get a little bit closer to Dr. King’s dream every day, because every day performing artists of different shapes and sizes and colors and ages work together under our roof - and on stage and in recording studios all over the world - to create art: to dance in unison, or to sing in harmony."
"Isn’t it wonderful?" said Philadelphia Mayor John Street, a featured speaker at the tribute. "When we supported the development of The Kimmel Center, we knew it would be a wonderful place to hear the orchestra play but it was also going to be a place where the city could convene and have events just like we’re having here today."
The tribute opened with the GAMP concert choir performing "Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing" and "Ezekiel Saw the Wheel." The choir was followed by PHILADANCO’s D/2 presenting a solo entitled "Nobody but Jesus," and a quartet "In the Spirit" with music by The Winans.
Soloist Aaron Lewis, a CAPA student, sang "Precious Lord, Take My Hand," accompanied by Keran Sabir on piano. The spiritual was one of King’s favorites.
Also performing was The Kimmel Center Youth Jazz Ensemble, which made its debut exactly one month ago during The Kimmel Center’s first anniversary celebration. Under the direction of accomplished jazz musician and Kimmel Center Teaching Artist Marc Johnson, The Kimmel Center Youth Jazz Ensemble is comprised of 33 students, ages 11 to 14, from public, parochial and private schools throughout the region. The Barra Foundation generously supports The Kimmel Center Youth Jazz Ensemble.
The Kimmel Center Youth Jazz Ensemble performed two selections, "It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)" and "Blues Dues," then concluded the tribute with a special jazz rendition of "Happy Birthday."
Students from several local schools including McCall Elementary School, Conwell Middle Magnet School, Meredith School, Middle Years Alternative (MYA), GAMP and World Communication Charter School attended the tribute.
Referring to himself, Street told the students that Dr. King’s work made it possible for "an African-American kid off the farm" to become mayor of the country’s fifth largest city and reminded them that anyone of them could one day replace him as mayor. He encouraged the students to be inspired by the day’s tribute.
"Renew your commitment that you are going to be the best that you can be," Street said.
The Kimmel Center Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute will be broadcast on Monday, January 20 at 7pm. The broadcast will air on Kids Corner, a daily radio program for kids heard weeknights at 7pm on WXPN-FM (88.5), public radio from the University of Pennsylvania.
The Kimmel Center offers free performances on the Commonwealth Plaza stage every Wednesday at 5pm and every Saturday and Sunday at Noon. For more information, visit online at www.kimmelcenter.org.
Photo: Kelly & Massa
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