"The Chicago Sinfonietta's stirring tribute to the civil rights leader...was an inspirational evening for all."
Chicago Tribune

“Singing with heart, stepping with drive, and diverse in age, stature, and race, this choir embodied King's vision of fervently reaching for the dream."
Wednesday Journal

Show Concept
Every January the Chicago community marks the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a musical celebration presented by the Chicago Sinfonietta, our nation’s most diverse symphony orchestra. This event has become a “must-see” for African-American adults and children, as well as people from all backgrounds who share Dr. King’s dream of peace and brotherhood. The Chicago Sinfonietta is pleased to share this uplifting music experience with audiences throughout the Midwest through a limited number of touring dates available starting in January and February of 2009.

The Tribute concert showcases the talented and diverse musicians of the Chicago Sinfonietta under the baton of noted African-American conductor, Paul Freeman, our special guest artists, and partner arts organizations, all performing repertoire chosen based on our annual themes of peace, brotherhood, and overcoming adversity. This package offers presenters the opportunity to engage new audiences with this special Black History Month program. And because the program changes every year, The Tribute Concert can become an annual celebration for your community. Examples recent programs include:

2006: Tchaikovsky – Romeo and Juliet; Abels – American Variations on Swing Low Sweet Chariot; Guarnieri – Three Dances for Orchestra choreographed and performed by the Deeply Rooted Dance Theater; Bernstein – Chichester Psalms featuring the Chicago Children’s Choir; Steffe – Battle Hymn of the Republic. 2007: Prokfiev – Piano Concerto No. 1 performed by Jeremy Jordan; Martin, Coretta & Rosa: A Tribute in Words and Music written and narrated by Lerone Bennett, Jr. featuring Soprano Jonita Lattimore; Gospel Music - featuring the 200-voice Apostolic Church of God Sanctuary Choir. 2008: Hailstork – Celebration; Barber – Adagio For Strings choreographed and performed by the Deeply Rooted Dance Theater; Saint-Georges – Symphonie Concertante, Op. 13 performed by Sphinx winners Melissa White and Christina Castelli; Gospel Music - featuring the 200-voice Apostolic Church of God sanctuary Choir.

Every concert concludes with the audience standing, with hands joined, singing “We Shall Overcome”.

About the Chicago Sinfonietta
Founded in 1987, The Chicago Sinfonietta is dedicated to promoting diversity, inclusiveness, and innovative programming in classical music. Acknowledged as our nation’s most diverse orchestra, the Sinfonietta performs subscription seasons at Symphony Center, home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and at Lund Auditorium in River Forest, Illinois. The orchestra has toured Europe on six occasions, recorded fourteen CDs including the landmark African Heritage Series, performed twice at the Kennedy Center, and is the official orchestra of the Joffrey Ballet.

About Maestro Paul Freeman
In the minds of many classical music concertgoers, Dr. Paul Freeman is recognized as one of the first major African-American orchestral conductors to make a mark in the symphonic world. In the minds of classical record buyers, Freeman is known as a champion of African-American classical composers--a conductor who opened up a musical world that until he came along had been largely invisible. He has conducted more than 100 orchestras in 28 countries, and has made more than 200 recordings, performing music ranging from the mainstream European repertory to completely unfamiliar pieces by composers from a great variety of backgrounds. In addition to his work with the Chicago Sinfonietta, he serves as the Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, a position he has held since 1996. He has been heard in more than 150 cities across America as the co-host of the National Public Radio program, The Global Maestro.

The 2009 Touring Concert
While guest artists, repertoire, and partnering organizations have not yet been finalized for 2009, it is safe to say that The Tribute Concert will feature talented, young soloists of color, repertoire that is thematic in nature and showcases the orchestra’s rich sound, and will include artists drawn from our on-going collaborations with Chicago’s finest arts organizations. Concepts under discussion for 2009 include an encore performance of “Martin, Coretta, and Rosa: A Tribute in Words and Music” with the participation of members from the Congo Square Theater Company and sung by Jonita Lattimore, a dance element choreographed and performed by the Luna Negra Dance Company, and soloists to be announced.