Handel And Haydn Society Presents NIGRA SUM SED FORMOSA: I AM BLACK BUT BEAUTIFUL

On Saturday, April 27, 2019, the Handel and Haydn Society will celebrate the breadth and depth of black artistry with powerful music from black composers across three centuries in Nigra Sum Sed Formosa: I Am Black But Beautiful. A collaboration between Castle of Our Skins and the Handel and Haydn Society, the performance will take place at 3:00 p.m. at the Roxbury Community College Media Arts Center.

Directed by Reginald L. Mobley, Ashleigh Gordon, and Dr. Jennifer Kane, the performance will feature musicians from the Handel and Haydn Society Orchestra and Chorus, musicians from Castle of our Skins, a literary performance from Marlon Carey, and the Handel and Haydn Society Vocal Arts Program Concert Choir.

L'Merchie Frazier, Director of Education and Interpretation at the Museum of African American History, will offer a pre-concert lecture at 2:00 p.m. Presented as part of ArtWeek, her lecture will contextualize the program's Latin namesake as it relates to music, arts, and today's modern time.

The afternoon will feature music from black composers across three centuries, and include both music and guest readings. The program will include Daniel Bernard Roumain's I Made Up My Mind Not to Move from his "Parks" String Quartet; Jonathan Woody's world premiere of Nigra Sum Sed Formosa: I am Black But Beautiful - A fantasia on microaggressions; Jessica May's Bear; Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's The Lee Shore; Florence Price's Andante Moderato from String Quartet in G Major; Zanaida Robles' Umoja featuring the H+H Concert Choir; Sam Cooke's A Change is Gonna Come featuring the H+H Concert Choir; and Andre J. Thomas' I Dream a World performed by the full ensemble. The program will last one hour and is free and open to the public, although advance reservations are requested. Reservations can be made online at www.handelandhaydn.org.

"Nigra Sum Sed Formosa is a celebration, a chance to recognize and honor some of the most talented black composers, many who have used their music to fight against injustice," said Mobley. "I'm thrilled to work with Ashleigh Gordon and Dr. Jennifer Kane to shine a spotlight on these amazing compositions, performed by the incredible musicians of the Handel and Haydn Society and Castle of our Skins."

"It is the community of Boston, the people, that creates the core of our city," said David Snead, President and CEO of the Handel and Haydn Society. "Nigra Sum Sed Formosa is designed to shine a light on the diversity of talent in our city, using art and music to celebrate our differences and bring us together. It will truly be an afternoon to remember."

Tickets for individual performances may be purchased by calling 617.266.3605, visiting handelandhaydn.org or in person at 9 Harcourt Street in Boston (M-F 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.). Student and group discounts are also available.

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