UM Music Department Presents Black History Month Concert

Feb. 26 event features university ensembles performing African, Caribbean, jazz, world music and black composers' works

black history month concert ole miss university of mississippi music department gertrude c ford center ensemble artistsOXFORD, Miss. – In observance of Black History Month, the University of Mississippi Department of Music presents its annual concert Feb. 26.

The event begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts. Admission is free.

“The Department of Music does a Black History Month concert every February, led by the Ole Miss African Dance and Drum Ensemble and featuring a variety of musical ensembles and guest performers,” said Ryan Breeland, program coordinator for the department.

“I initiated this annual series of Black History Month Concerts in 2004,” said George Dor, associate professor of music and BMH concert program coordinator. “Black History Month is intended to celebrate African-Americans and latently other people of African descent. A way of valorizing the preceding is to acknowledge their significant contributions to different spheres of our lives.”

Dor recommended that the repertoire of BHM concerts feature works of black composers, genres created and developed by African-Americans, Africans and Caribbean people, and arrangements in the stylistic veins of African-American and African music traditions by musicians/composers of any cultural background.

Ghanaian dances and compositions by William Grant Still, Ayatey Shabazz, William Owens, Michael Ndow, Robert Sheldon, Len “Boogie” Sharpe, Rafael De Leon, et al, John Rosamond Johnson, Daniel Kelley, Mary Lou Williams and Oliver Nelson will be performed.

Featured ensembles include the Ole Miss African Drum and Dance Ensemble, directed by Dor; the UM Steel Orchestra and World Percussion Ensemble, directed by Ricky Burkhead; the Mississippians Jazz Ensemble, directed by Michael Worthy; and the UM Concert Band, directed by Randy Dale.

Guest artists scheduled are Johnny Lane, world-renowned percussionist and UM professor emeritus; Samuel K. Elikem Nyamuame, co-director, of Binghamton University’s African Music and Dance Ensemble; and Damein Wash, vocalist and UM alumnus. Music student soloists are George Money, vibraphone; Christopher Scott, saxophone; Kashaun Wortham, violoncello; Brandon Collins, clarinet; and Jasmaine Wilbert, lead voice.

A UM wind quintet also is scheduled to perform. Members include Donnie McGee, flute; Pamela Ponce, oboe; Kim Cassisa, clarinet; Traces Brooks, horn; and Madison Lorenzo, bassoon. Accompanists are Gordon Jason and Stacy Rodgers.

“This year’s concert features mainly instrumental ensembles and music,” Dor said. “Next year’s will return to emphasis on vocal genres. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, ‘Diversity is … a beautiful symphony of humanity.’ I consider all of us as members of that symphony.”

For more information, contact Dor at 662-915-7269 or by email at gwkdor@olemiss.edu.