African American Heritage

17 February 2018
7:30 p.m.
Juanita K. Hammons Hall

Gershwin
Porgy and Bess: A Symphonic Picture

Selection of Spirituals with Todd Payne, Baritone

Narration: Excerpt from “I Have a Dream” – Martin Luther King, Jr. with Todd Payne

William Grant Still
Afro-Amerian Symphony

In honor of African-American Heritage Month, the Springfield Symphony is excited to present the Afro-American Symphony by William Grant Still. Still was the first African-American to have a symphony performed by a major symphony orchestra and the first to conduct a major orchestra. In the Afro-Amerian Symphony, Still combines blues, jazz, and spirituals into a traditional classic form, and it is instantly appealing and fresh. We will also play Gershwin’s jazzy Porgy and Bess, and welcome Todd Payne back to our stage to sing spirituals and present his very moving interpretation of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s I Have a Dream speech.