Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Concert Program

Avulekile Amasango 
Traditional, South Africa
VocalEssence Singers Of This Age

I Have a Dream: A Welcome      
G. Phillip Shoultz, III
Emcee, Artistic Director, Curator

Audience Sing: Lift Every Voice and Sing   
by  J. Rosamond Johnson &  James Weldon Johnson

Greetings   
Joan T.A. Gabel
President, University of Minnesota

Hope, as performed by Sweet Honey in the Rock   

by Ysäye Barnwell 

VocalEssence Singers Of This Age

Remarks    
Mercedes Ramírez Fernández
Vice President, Office of Equity and Diversity

I Know I
Niles
Founder of The Avant Garde and the Hip-Hop, History and the Arts Youth program

His Eye is On the Sparrow
by Charles Gabriel
Rosemary Klass
Senior Veterinary Technician, University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center

Remarks    
Dr. Angela Spranger
Sr. Diversity Officer at the Carlson School of Management

Creative Expression: Hold On, as recorded by Sounds of Blackness  
MELAVISION                  

Remarks from the DREAM Initiative    
Dr. Amelious N. Whyte, Jr.
Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Public Engagement, College of Liberal Arts

Two selections from Niles:
The Next
An original spoken word tribute: The King   

I Choose Love  
by Mark Miller
VocalEssence Singers of This Age

I Have a Dream excerpt from a speech given at the March on Washington, April 28, 1963 
VocalEssence Singers Of This Age        

Lead with Love    
by Melanie DeMore
VocalEssence Singers Of This Age

Audience Sing: This Joy
by Shirley Ceasar

I Sing Because I’m Happy
by Charles Gabriel, setting by Rollo Dilworth
VocalEssence Singers Of This Age

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Concert Participants

G. Phillip Shoultz, III, Artistic Director and Curator, MLK Tribute Concert

Associate Artistic Director, VocalEssence & founder, VocalEssence Singers Of This Age

Mercedes Ramírez Fernández, Vice President, Office for Equity and Diversity

Joan T.A. Gabel, President, University of Minnesota

Rosemary Klass, Senior Veterinary Technician, University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center

Dr. Angela Spranger, Senior Diversity Officer, Carlson School of Management

Dr. Amelious N. Whyte,  Jr., Assistant Dean for DEI, & Public Engagement, College of Liberal Arts

MELAVISION: Isaiah Bates and Jerilyn Moya-Hypolite

Niles, founder of The Avant Garde and the Hip-Hop, History and the Arts Youth program

VocalEssence Singers Of This Age

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Special Thanks are extended to...

  • Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the many other leaders—past and present—who have tirelessly fought against injustice. Without their efforts, we would not be here today.
  • Each and all of our performers and presenters for sharing their gifts so freely with us today.
  • Lisa Marshall and Amy Halbmaier from OED for our many conversations and behind-the-scenes logistics in making today’s event possible.
  • Sari Baker, John Marks, Ben Eng, and the Production Team for making it so easy and welcoming for us here at Ted Mann Concert Hall
  • Akemi Graves and Clancy Theade
  • Dianne Lev and our DREAM Initiative partners
  • Cookie Cart for providing today’s treats
  • Preps by Marvelles for reception catering

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