Unsung Heroes: Celebrating America’s musical heritage and legacy

The Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestra is honored to celebrate the indelible mark left by generations of African-American composers, artists and musicians. Over the coming months, as the nation celebrates the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and National Black and Women’s History Months, the CSO encourages you and your family to explore the many music icons of the past and present.

We invite you to join us throughout our CSO and Pops season to celebrate African-American culture and heritage at these exciting concerts:

Saturday, January 19, 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, January 20, 2013, 2:00 p.m., MAC Open Door Concerts: Cincinnati Pops, Patti Austin sings the music of Ella Fitzgerald, Music Hall – Guest conductor Steve Reinke and vocal powerhouse Patti Austin pick up the songbook of the First Lady of Song herself, Ella Fitzgerald. Austin made her debut at age four and has been delighting jazz audiences ever since. Did you know? Ella Fitzgerald was the first guest artist to open the Pops inaugural summer season at Riverbend Music Center in 1984. FOR TICKETS AND MORE INFORMATION, CALL 513.381.3300.

Sunday, January 20, 2013, 5:00 p.m., Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra (CSYO) Nouveau Chamber Players performs at annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Interfaith Vesper, Zion Baptist Church, 630 Glenwood Avenue, Avondale – The community is invited to participate in this special program of fellowship and music in honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Keynote speaker, Cincinnati Police Chief James Craig. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL ZION BAPTIST CHURCH, 513.751.8608.

Friday, February 1, 2013, 7:30 p.m., CSO Benjamin Carlson-Berne Scholarship Concert with pianist Terrence Wilson, The School for Creative & Performing Arts Corbett Theater – Internationally renowned pianist, Terrence Wilson returns to Cincinnati for an exclusive performance to benefit the Scholarship Fund named for a young pianist he met and with whom he shared a vital mission. A dessert reception to meet Mr. Wilson will follow immediately after the performance. Tickets: $35. Concert proceeds will provide financial support to students for private instrumental music lessons. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 513.744.3457.

Sunday, February 24, 2013, 5:00 p.m., Allen Temple A.M.E. Church and the Cincinnati Symphony Volunteer Association Multicultural Awareness Council present CSYO Nouveau Chamber Players Winter Recital, 7030 Reading Road, Bond Hill – Meet and hear the 2012-2013 CSYO Nouveau Chamber Players as they present their first recital of the season. Composed of African-American middle and high school string students, these community music ambassadors perform before CSO concerts and at community gatherings. Nouveau Chamber Players is sponsored by the Queen City Chapter (OH) of The Links, Incorporated Signature Arts Program, Classics Through the Ages. FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 513.744.3254.

Friday, March 15, 2013, 7:30 p.m., CSO Classical Roots, Music Hall – Reserve your tickets today for this one-night-only concert experience! Cincinnati Pops Conductor, John Morris Russell leads the 2013 Classical Roots concert with a look at America’s unsung heroes and their musical influences. Branford Marsalis, CSO Creative Director and jazz legend joins the CSO and singers from over 30 area churches to pay tribute to visionaries whose passion, courage and perseverance has left an indelible mark on classical and jazz music throughout the world! FOR TICKETS AND MORE INFORMATION, CALL 513.381.3300.

Want to learn more about great African-American composers and artists? Here are a few websites to help get you started:

• Afrocentric Voices in Classical Music (http://www.afrovoices.com/)
• AfriClassical – African Heritage in Classical Music (http://chevalierdesaintgeorges.homestead.com/index.html)
• Smithsonian Jazz (http://www.smithsonianjazz.org/)
• Sphinx Kids (http://www.sphinxkids.org/)

You can also read more about African-Americans’ achievements in classical music in the following books available at your local public library:

• Abdul, Raoul, Blacks in Classical Music: A Personal History, 1978.
• Brooks, Tilford, America’s Black Musical Heritage, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, 1984.
• Caldwell, Hansonia L., African American Music: A Chronology 1619-1995. Los Angeles: Ikoro Communications, 1996.

The websites and books listed are for informational and educational purposes only. The CSO does not recommend or endorse any specific opinions or other information that may be mentioned or referenced on the links provided. While CSO strives to provide users with the highest-quality related resources, we cannot and do not ensure the quality or accuracy of the content to which we link.