William Dawson News

Hammonds House Museum, through their new Hammonds House Digital programming, is creating and curating rich arts and cultural experiences that reach audiences beyond the walls of the museum. 

The Music Center's President and CEO Rachel S. Moore today announced the addition of dance curator/producer Martin Wechsler as a senior advisor for TMC Arts Dance presentations, including its Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center series and other related dance initiatives. Wechsler will bring more than 30 years' experience in the dance field, including programming, commissioning and administrative expertise, to The Music Center, one of the nation's largest performing arts centers.

Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA), one of the country's longest-running and largest LGBTQ arts organizations, announced today that Ernest H. Harrison, a conductor, singer, and educator, has been appointed Music Director & Conductor.  

The November installment of the Martha Graham Dance Company's popular Studio Series takes audiences inside the creative process of The Auditions, a new work by choreographer Troy Schumacher and composer Augusta Read Thomas, commissioned by Peak Performances.

Nia Franklin, Miss America 2019, joined with international partner Sing for Hope to bring joy and healing to Duke University Children's Hospital in the form of a special Sing for Hope Piano by Noël Copeland. Though Nia was crowned Miss America in September 2018, this story is many years in the making.

Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) is pleased to announce a major gift of 46 artworks from Los Angeles-based collector, scholar, and advocate Gordon W. Bailey. The works encompass a variety of media including drawing, painting and sculpture, and join artworks Bailey gifted in 2016, increasing his total contribution to 60 objects. All but two of the 28 artists are new additions to PAMM's collection.

Their May 8 concert, From Song Came Symphony, will explore the symphonic influence of composer Harry T. Burleigh, whose legacy is often tied to the concertization of the American spiritual. He is also increasingly credited as influencing some of the spiritual-inspired thematic material for the 'New World Symphony' and 'American String Quartet' of Antonin Dvorak. The Burleigh Society, which advances studies of black art music through scholarship and performance, hopes to broaden audiences' understanding of Burleigh's foundational contributions to American classical music.

'The Bipeds dance-theatre company of Durham, NC presents the New York premiere of 54 Strange Words, a surreal music and dance production. A scorching rock & roll band lead by banjo player Curtis Eller joins Choreographer, Stacy Wolfson's cast of visceral dancers to present a sepia-tinged, psychedelic song and dance spectacle. The line between the dancers and musicians dissolves as the performers descend into a strange and mysterious world of nightmare imagery. Musicians become dancers, dancers become singers, and unhinged howls of wild abandon give way to moments of harmony and grace.'

Harlem Stage, the legendary uptown venue that for over 35 years has promoted the creative legacy of Harlem and artists of color from around the corner and across the globe, is proud to present its Spring 2019 season of performances. The season marks the 20thanniversary of Harlem Stage's signature dance program E-Moves, which for two decades has nurtured and presented choreographers of color across the spectrum of contemporary dance idioms to create new work.The season also features collaborations with exciting new partners including the Prototype Festival and the French Institute Alliance Francaise (FIAF), and continued relationships with venerable arts institutions such as Repertorio Español, Carnegie Hall, Manhattan School of Music, and Chamber Music America.

Chestnut Street Singers, Philadelphia's cooperative chamber choir, is preparing an entire season of concerts that explore the struggles and the reconciliation of the human spirit. Their season theme, RESISTANCE AND RESILIENCE, examines music as a tool for liberation, and features new venues, new musical styles, and the choir's largest roster ever.

Chestnut Street Singers, Philadelphia's cooperative chamber choir, is preparing an entire season of concerts that explore the struggles and the reconciliation of the human spirit. Their season theme, RESISTANCE AND RESILIENCE, examines music as a tool for liberation, and features new venues, new musical styles, and the choir's largest roster ever.

Harlem Stage, the legendary uptown venue that for over 35 years has promoted the creative legacy of Harlem and artists of color from around the corner and across the globe, is proud to present its Fall 2018 season of performances. The season is curated by Monique Martin, recently appointed Director of Programming for Harlem Stage and features artists who #Disrupt and take creative risk. The performances feature a range of artistic genres, offering audiences the chance to experience legendary performers, as well as rising stars.

Deeply Rooted Dance Theater (DRDT) returns to New York City in April with the New York premiere of its 2017 evening-length work INDUMBA by acclaimed South African choreographer Fana Tshabalala. Performances take place Saturday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 29 at 3 p.m. at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) Fishman Space, 321 Ashland Place in Brooklyn. Noted arts professional Baraka Sele participates in a discussion with artists and audience following the April 29 performance.

Harlem Stage, the legendary uptown venue that for over 30 years has promoted the creative legacy of Harlem and artists of color from around the corner and across the globe, is proud to present its Spring 2018 season of performances. The season is curated by Monique Martin, newly appointed Director of Programming for Harlem Stage and features artists as #Disrupters, who take creative risk. They reflect the times via a range of artistic genres, offering audiences the chance to experience legendary performers and rising stars.

Harlem Stage, the legendary uptown venue that for over 30 years has promoted the creative legacy of Harlem and artists of color from around the corner and across the globe, is proud to present its Spring 2018 season of performances. The season is curated by Monique Martin, newly appointed Director of Programming for Harlem Stage and features artists as #Disrupters, and take creative risk. They reflect the times via a range of artistic genres, offering audiences the chance to experience legendary performers and rising stars.

Harlem Stage, the legendary uptown venue that for over 30 years has promoted the creative legacy of Harlem and artists of color from around the corner and across the globe, is proud to present its Spring 2018 season of performances. The season is curated by Monique Martin, newly appointed Director of Programming for Harlem Stage and features artists who #Disrupt, and take creative risk. They reflect the times via a range of artistic genres, offering audiences the chance to experience legendary performers and rising stars.

The Orpheum Theatre Group is pleased to announce that President & CEO Brett Batterson has been named NAPAMA's (North American Performing Arts Managers and Agents) 2017 Presenter of the Year. The official awards presentation will take place at the Association of Performing Arts Professionals' (APAP) annual conference on Monday, January 15, 2018 at the New York Hilton Midtown. Batterson's award will be presented by NAPAMA president, David Wannen.

On January 16, 2018 at 7:00pm, join Harlem Stage -- the legendary uptown venue that for over 30 years has been promoting the creative legacy of Harlem and artists of color -- for a special winter benefit performance that will honor the life and work of Ella Fitzgerald. This intimate evening will feature jazz icon Dee Dee Bridgewater and singing sensation W McDonald, of The Voice fame, as they pay tribute to the legendary Ella Fitzgerald in honor of her centennial. In the spirit of the best traditions in jazz, both of these artists will perform their own inimitable interpretations of the songs made famous by Ella.

The beautiful suite prepared by William Dawson Jr. and the poetry of Florida's Poet Laureate Peter Meinke came together like a beautiful, strong cocktail- waves of the fused art forms crashed audiences note after note in unforgettable fashion.

On Tuesday, Florida Poet Laureate and long-time author Peter Meinke will recite stories of his life and poems over original arrangements of prized composer William Dawson Jr.