By Becky Mayad
The African American Museum, Dallas (AAM) will present The Scott Joplin Chamber Orchestra of Houston Concert on Saturday, March 11 at 5 p.m. at The Black Academy of Arts and Letters’ Bruton Theater, located at 1309 Canton St. in Dallas. The orchestra’s seventh Dallas appearance pays homage to world-renowned musical performer, producer, arranger and composer Quincy Jones, who holds the record for the all-time most GRAMMY wins. In addition, the South Dallas Children’s Choir — a program extension of the African American Museum, Dallas — will perform a selection of ballads. Also, Evelyn Foster Hamilton, a longtime dedicated community leader in music and retired educator, will be honored.
Photo courtesy of the South Dallas Children’s Choir
Sponsored by the African American Museum, the event benefits the Museum’s youth programs. Tickets are $15 and $25 with a limited number of $75 VIP tickets available at the Museum and Ticketmaster.com.
Considered “one of the greatest minds in music and television history,” Quincy Jones has garnered a record 80 GRAMMY nominations and 28 GRAMMY wins throughout his illustrious 70-year career in the entertainment industry. Jones — who turns 90 on March 14 — has undoubtedly shaped pop culture, having produced and composed for legendary musicians such as Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, Celine Dion and Aretha Franklin. He also produced “The Color Purple” film and “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” television series. The concert will feature selections from Jones’ famous productions and TV theme songs.
Honorary co-chairs are church musicians Raymond Carroll and Murphy Wright. The event chair is Dr. Vivian Bradley Johnson, senior vice president of clinical services for Parkland Health.
One of the nation’s oldest contemporary majority African American community orchestras, the Scott Joplin Chamber Orchestra was formed in 1983 under the umbrella of the nonprofit Community Music Center of Houston.
Founder and Music Director Anne Lundy (pictured) says its three purposes are to give African American instrumentalists opportunities to perform together; to explore and perform music written by Black composers; and to be an example to the Black community that orchestras can include people that look like them.
Since its inception, the Scott Joplin Chamber Orchestra has performed mainstream works such as Handel’s Messiah as well as significant, lesser-known music by Black composers.
The South Dallas Children’s Choir — who will perform beloved songs “Lift Every Voice” and “We Shall Overcome” along with a Quincy Jones selection — was established as a result of the Museum’s long-running, award-winning summer camp. Choir members range in ages from eight to 15 and are from varying racial, economic and religious backgrounds. The Children’s Choir is dedicated to the philosophy that through the learning and performance of excellent choral literature, the lives of the choir members, as well as the lives of their families and the community, will be enriched artistically and personally. The Choir has performed at the Fair Park Blues and Jazz Festival, the opening of the 2015 State Fair of Texas, The University of Notre Dame Choir and the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Candle Lighting Ceremony.
The event is presented in part by the City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture. For more information, go to aamdallas.org or call 214-565-9026.
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