Atlanta Symphony Orchestra to Celebrate 20th Anniversary of A King Celebration with Concert, 1/12

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra will celebrate the 20th anniversary of its annual "A King Celebration" concert, a musical tribute to DR. Martin Luther King, Jr., on Thursday, January 12, 2012, at 8:00 p.m. The performance, commemorating the life and work of the celebrated civil rights leader, will take place in Atlanta Symphony Hall at the Woodruff Arts Center.

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Music Director Robert Spano will lead the Orchestra in this musical tribute which will include acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma performing Dvo?ák's Cello Concerto, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed narrating Joseph Schwantner's New Morning for the World, and Beethoven's Overture to Fidelio. The Morehouse and Spelman College Glee Clubs will sing "How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place" from Brahms's A German Requiem and the traditional Elijah Rock.

"Our annual 'A King Celebration' concert has been one of Atlanta's greatest traditions for 20 years," said Atlanta Symphony Orchestra President Stanley E. Romanstein, Ph. D. "This musical tribute not only honors the memory of this legendary civil rights leader, but also unites the Atlanta community. We are grateful for our ongoing partnership with the King Center, Spelman College, and Morehouse College, and we'd also like to thank Delta Air Lines, UPS, and Suntrust for helping us bring this meaningful event to music lovers in our community and throughout the U.S."

"As a global airline headquartered in Atlanta for the past 70 years, Delta is fortunate to see, firsthand, the cultural and civic impact Dr. King had on local, national, and international levels," said Delta Air Lines Director of External Affairs and Community Relations Scarlet Pressley-Brown. "We are proud to have supported the newly dedicated King Memorial, of our support of Morehouse students through the Joseph E. Lowery International Leadership Scholarship, and to support the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra through this important event highlighting the late Dr. and Mrs. King's deep and personal love of classical orchestral music."

"UPS is proud to support the Atlanta Symphony's 'A King Celebration" concert,'" said The UPS Foundation President Ken Sternad. "There are many things that combine to make our city great, and the symphony is certainly one important element."

"SunTrust is proud of its long history in the Atlanta community, and in particular its support of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra," said SunTrust President and CEO William H. Rogers, Jr. "We believe a strong sense of community leads to even stronger relationships, and cannot imagine a better way to unite and celebrate the legacy of DR. Martin Luther King, Jr., than through the gift of music."

In honor of the 20th anniversary of the "A King Celebration" concerts, the performance will be broadcast live on American Public Radio with host Fred Child and guest host Lois Reitzes of Atlanta's WABE 90.1 FM. In addition, the concert will be broadcast to nearly 250 radio stations across the country on American Public Media's Performance Today on Monday, January 16, 2012. For station information and broadcast times, please visit performancetoday.publicradio.org. This concert is made possible through the generous support of Delta Air Lines, UPS, and SunTrust Bank.

Scarlet Pressley Brown, Director of External Affairs & Community Relations at Delta Air Lines and Vice President of the Delta Air Lines Foundation, is chairman of the 2012 Host Committee, which secures sponsorships and fundraising for the event. A King Celebration raises funds for music scholarships at Morehouse and Spelman Colleges, as well as Education and Community Engagement programs of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. For more information about purchasing host tickets or supporting "A King Celebration," please contact (404) 733-5069.