Black History Month may be winding down, but the quality of performance only grew last night in the University’s annual concert.
The Center for Inclusion and Cross Cultural Engagement, Department of Music, Center for the Study of Southern Culture, and the offices of both Global Engagement and the Provost sponsored the University’s Black History Month concert at the David H. Nutt Auditorium of Music.
With the theme “Love Shapes Diversity,” this year’s concert showcased performances by the UM African Drum and Dance Ensemble, UM Steel Orchestra, UM Gospel Choir, Men’s Glee Choir and selections by special guest artist Cynthia Felton, a religious, jazz and blues performer from Los Angeles.
The concert also paid tribute to the late blues artist and Mississippi native B.B. King, with a video presentation in his honor and music by a team of UM and Oxford Blues musicians and performers, led by music professor Ricky Burkhead.
Director of the Center for Inclusion and Cross Cultural Engagement Shawnboda Mead said she encourages everyone to live out the theme of the event and shape diversity with love.
“The theme for this evening’s concert reminds us that with love, understanding and friendship, we can work together to create an environment where everyone is valued and free to be who they are,” Mead said.
George Dor, music professor, director of the UM African Drum and Dance Ensemble, and major planner for the event, also said the event pays homage to not only African Americans, but diversity in general.
“The composition of the singers and the instrumentalists, were all so diverse,” Dor said. “Sitting together is a symbolic interaction of celebrating our talents together.”
Students like sophomore music education major Hadassah Strong said she enjoyed taking part in such a celebration.
“The concert was amazing,” Strong said. “As an African-American, I think it is a wonderful thing when we can come together and showcase all the talents that our culture has to offer.”
– Alexis Neely
