On Dr. Martin Luther King’s 95th birthday, January 15, 2024, the World House Choir will perform for the annual Yellow Springs Community King Day Celebration. An exciting new work, Suite Freedom, will be premiered. Artistic director, Dr. Catherine Roma, and Hip Hop artist, Tronee Threat (Guy Banks), have stitched together several pieces for a thoughtful take on the illusive idea of freedom.
Suite Freedom combines the African-American Spiritual, “Oh, Freedom” with a rap, “Freedom,” by Tron that includes an homage to “Glory” by John Legend and Common. The final section of the piece includes Duke Ellington’s composition “Freedom” from one of his three Sacred Jazz Concerts. Yellow Springs High School 11th grader, Gini Meekin, is the featured soloist in this swinging up-tempo finish to Suite Freedom. There will also be a short cameo from freestyler Damarion Howard, 7th grader at McKinney Middle School
The choir will also sing the beloved arrangement of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by Roland Carter and we will feature soloist Phillip O’Rourke in the powerful protest song “Something Inside So Strong.”
The World House Choir is thrilled to bring this unique collaboration with local talent to our village’s celebration of Dr. King’s birthday. The program starts at 11am at the John Bryan Community Center, 100 Dayton Street in Yellow Springs. All are welcome.