Halalisa Singers To Perform Draw The Circle Wide: Songs Of Justice And Inclusion

The Halalisa Singers presents Draw the Circle Wide: Songs of Justice and Inclusion on Saturday, January 20, 8 pm at Follen Community Church, 755 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, and on Sunday, January 21, 3 pm, United Universalist Church of Reading, 239 Woburn Street, Reading. The world music choral ensemble is led by Artistic Director Mary Cunningham, accompanied by Trevor Berens, piano and Bertram Lehmann, percussion.

In times like these, The Halalisa Singers aspire to nourish souls and inspire minds in song. Draw the Circle Wide: Songs of Justice and Inclusion draws from all corners of the planet and through the myriad styles of human expression in music. With themes of inclusion and justice threaded throughout the repertoire, the audience will experience fun, hope and witness the joy of working and singing together.

Featured in the program are many contemporary choral arrangements, including the concert title piece "Draw the Circle Wide" by Mark Miller. The new Gospel style piece "Take Down These Walls" is featured by Canadian composer Brian Tate, as well as "The Battle of Jericho" by Moses Hogan and a stirring arrangement of "People Get Ready" by Curtis Mayfield. The haunting work "Spiritual" by Ysaye Barnwell leaves listeners mindful and refreshed.

The chorus shines the light on environmental stewardship with shape-note style "Emerald Stream" by Seth Houston featuring gorgeous soprano solos. "Light of a Clear Blue Morning" written by Dolly Parton and arranged for choir by Craig Hella Johnson delivers a message of assurance and light. The lovely arrangement of "By the Waters of Babylon" is by local New Hampshire musician Peter Amidon.

The concert takes a decidedly international departure in traditional Kenyan "Wana Baraka"and "Ukuthula" South African Prayer for peace; the "Song of Kabir" Text by Indian Poet Rabindranath Tagore and music by Elizabeth Alexander. Written as a result of a mission trip, "Ukrainian Alleluia" is a contemporary prayer of hope and perseverance. Cuban author Silvio Rodríguez' text is set to music by Beatriz Corona in "Entre El Espanto Y La Tenura (Between Terror and Tenderness)" and Neil Ginsburg's beautiful arrangement for chorus and flute of the Hebrew fool song "Hine Ma Tov".

The Halalisa Singers are dedicated to the performance of music across all cultures and nationalities. Halalisa is a Zulu word for "celebration," and in that spirit, the Halalisa repertoire includes African, Latin, American Spiritual, Gospel, Jewish, Folk, and Jazz music. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Mary Cunningham, this Lexington-based group is now in its twenty-third year, offering performances throughout the Boston area. The group is inspired by the belief that music is a universal language with the power to uplift and unite all.
Artistic Director Mary Cunningham has led the Halalisa Singers since the fall of 2004, creating and directing 26 unique and vibrant world music-themed choral concerts to date. Following her vision to share their music across the Boston area, Halalisa reaches out to wider audiences, performing an ever-expanding repertoire. Cunningham is well known in the Boston area as an active choral conductor, vocalist, and flute soloist. She is the Music Director at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Reading, a member of the American Choral Directors Association and the UU Musicians Network. A frequent performer with the Christmas Revels, Mary is on the faculty of the Powers Music School in Belmont, and has a private teaching studio in her Lexington home.

Tickets to Draw the Circle Wide: Songs of Justice and Inclusion are $20 for adults, $15 for students and senior citizens online at www.brownpapertickets.com or at the door. For more information about Halalisa Singers, visit www.halalisa.org, or follow us on Facebook.