The Cleveland Orchestra to host free Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Concert on January 19 at Severance Music Center (The 2024 Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Concert. © Roger Mastroianni) |
| Free concert tickets are available on January 4, first-come, first-served MLK Community Open House & Day of Music hosted at Severance Music Center on January 20 CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Orchestra will host its 45th annual concert honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Sunday, January 19, at 7 p.m. in the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Concert Hall at Severance Music Center. This free concert, led by The Cleveland Orchestra’s associate conductor Daniel Reith, features soprano Laquita Mitchell and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Chorus, an all-volunteer community chorus directed by Dr. William Henry Caldwell. Aseelah Shareef, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Karamu House, will be the evening’s host. The program takes the audience on a journey through the life of civil rights leader and author Coretta Scott King, the wife of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The music selections depict her growth as an accomplished soprano and activist, who used music to inspire, uplift, and mobilize people during the Civil Rights movement and beyond. The celebration at Severance Music Center continues with a free MLK Community Open House & Day of Music on Monday, January 20, from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors of all ages are encouraged to enjoy performances by community ensembles throughout the building and enjoy hands-on activities in a casual atmosphere. Tickets are not required. The day’s lineup includes The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra, The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus, Blakk Jakk Dance Collective, Tiamoyo Chorale, The Stix Quintet, DJ Lily Jade, The Dance Centre, and students from Cleveland Orchestra Learning Programs. Key Bank is the Community Access Partner for the 2025 Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Concert. The Cleveland Orchestra recognizes and thanks Mrs. Jayne M. Zborowsky for her support of this concert. 2025 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Service in the Arts Awards The 2025 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Service Awards will be presented to Richard K. Levitz, Dr. David Thomas, and Splice-Cream Truck as part of the concert on January 19. This is the 21st year for the awards, which recognize individuals and organizations whose work has had a positive impact on music and the arts in our beloved community, reflecting the spirit, example, and teachings of Dr. King. Livestream and Radio Broadcast The Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Concert on January 19 will be available to watch live for free on Adella.Live, the digital home of The Cleveland Orchestra, and YouTube.com/ClevelandOrchestra. The concert will also be broadcast live on WCLV 90.3, WKSU 89.7, and live, simultaneous streaming will be available on ideastream.org, smart speakers, and the Ideastream Public Media app, expanding access to this musical experience. Ticket Information Although the concert is free, tickets are required and available on a first-come, first-served basis beginning on Saturday, January 4, at 10 a.m., through the Severance Ticket Office in person, by phone at 216-231-1111, or online at clevelandorchestra.com. There is a limit of four tickets per household. All tickets for this performance are typically distributed by noon on the day they are made available to the public. Parking Information Parking in the Case Western Reserve University Campus Center Garage (Lot 29, adjacent to Severance) for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Concert on January 19 will be available for free, on a first-come, first-served basis. The parking rate for the Community Open House on January 20 will be $7 per vehicle. Pre-paid parking is not available for this event. For more information about parking, please visit clevelandorchestra.com. Calendar Listing: Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Concert Sunday, January 19, 2025, at 7 p.m. Severance Music Center, Mandel Concert Hall The Cleveland Orchestra Daniel Reith, conductor Dr. William Henry Caldwell, conductor Laquita Mitchell, soprano Aseelah Shareef, host Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Chorus JOHNSON Lift Every Voice and Sing (arr. Hale Smith) COLERIDGE-TAYLOR Ballade for Orchestra TRADITIONAL Ain’a That Good News (arr. Dawson) TRADITIONAL My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord (arr. Glenn L. Jones) GOUNOD O Divine Redeemer TRADITIONAL Hold On! (arr. Jester Hairston) SHROPSHIRE If My Jesus Wills/We Shall Overcome (arr. Tim Berens) ADOLPHUS HAILSTORK Epitaph for a Man Who Dreamed PRICE Hold Fast to Dreams (orch. Brandon Ridenour) SMITH MOORE Love Let the Wind Cry… How I Adore Thee (orch. Nicholas Hersh) VALERIE COLEMAN Umoja: Anthem of Unity TRADITIONAL Amazing Grace (arr. Tim Berens) Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Open House & Day of Music Monday, January 20, 2025, from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Severance Music Center 11:45 a.m.: Blakk Jakk Dance Collective 12:15 p.m.: Tiamoyo Chorale 1 p.m.: The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus 1:45 p.m.: The Cleveland Orchestra Bassoon Farm 2 p.m.: The Cleveland Orchestra Crescendo Ensemble 2:30 p.m.: The Cleveland Orchestra Music Mentor student showcase 3 p.m.: The Stix Quintet 3:30 p.m.: The Dance Centre 4:14 p.m.: The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra Enjoy the stylings of DJ Lily Jade in the Grand Foyer between performances from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. All programs, artists, and prices are subject to change. |
