At The Soraya, we are an organization that leads with its values, and of those, social justice stands foremost. Our stage is home to artists and musicians who raise up the lives of African Americans. In the weeks immediately preceding the venue’s closure from COVID-19, we co-hosted R&B legend Mavis Staples; we premiered Drumfolk, the new piece by Step Afrika! about the slave rebellion of 1739; and we launched Black History Month with Selma, the celebrated film about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with an introduction by director Ava DuVernay and with composer Jason Moran performing his own music from the piano. Today more than ever before, we vigorously re-commit to our values. In the words of Mavis Staples: “Say it loud. Say it clear. Things gotta change around here.”
The Aeolians Oakwood University Alumni 2020 “We Shall Overcome”
This will be our final Director Selects, at least for now. It’s a single link with a powerful and moving musical performance by a very talented college choir. Like me, you may find yourself wanting to listen over and over again. As someone who sang in choir starting at an early age and right up through my years at Indiana University, I salute the power of young voices joining together in song, and share it with you.