July 20, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Santa Monica Symphony’s Second Concert Celebrates MLK’s Dream:

By Erika Kerekes

When the Santa Monica Symphony plays its second concert of the 2012-13 season this Sunday at SGI Auditorium, the spirit of the great Martin Luther King Jr. will fill the hall.

Conductor and Music Director Guido Lamell has chosen a program that both honors the late civil rights leader and celebrates the contributions of African-Americans to our country’s musical heritage.

“When I was looking for music to include in this program, I looked at what the great orchestras around the country were playing during this period,” Lamell said. “I was surprised to discover that few orchestras included music by current African-American composers.”

Lamell listened to hundreds of pieces before selecting the works of Adolphus Hailstork, a contemporary African-American composer who studied with Nadia Boulanger and is currently Composer-In-Residence at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.

The orchestra will perform Hailstork’s “Three Spirituals for Orchestra” and “Fanfare on Amazing Grace,” both representative of Hailstork’s signature blend of symphonic and African-American traditions.

“I’m delighted to be able to introduce Adolphus Hailstork’s work to the music lovers of Santa Monica,” Lamell said.

Sunday’s program also includes a moving piece for orchestra and baritone by Lee Hoiby, an American composer known for setting poetry and various prominent texts to music. Hoiby, who died in 2011, wrote the lush and lyrical aria “I Have a Dream” using the text of Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous speech.

Lamell said the soloist, Ralph Cato, is a celebrated baritone who is much in demand and sings frequently with orchestras and opera companies around Los Angeles and beyond.

“The Hoiby piece is one I would be proud to perform on any program, but it’s especially meaningful as part of our traditional Martin Luther King Jr. Day concert,” he said. “Listening to those powerful words as the orchestra swells and dips beneath the soloist is glorious. The music really brings out the meaning in Dr. King’s words. It will be a magical way for the Santa Monica community to mark the holiday and celebrate how far we as a nation have come towards achieving Dr. King’s dream.”

Lamell said the patriotic program also includes Aaron Copland’s all-American “Fanfare for the Common Man” and Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony no. 9, “From the New World.”

“The Copland Fanfare is perhaps the greatest fanfare ever written,” Lamell said. “Its open harmonies and stunning percussion evoke impressions of freedom and power like no other. Dvorak’s “New World” has such beauty and orchestral brilliance that it is generally considered to be one of the top five most beloved and frequently performed of all symphonic works.”

Maestro Lamell has a surprise for the audience in the second movement of the Dvorak symphony. Instead of the traditional English horn solo, baritone soloist Cato will sing the famously haunting melody, with words written by Lamell.

“Many people wonder what inspired Dvorak to write this exceedingly beautiful symphony during the brief period that he lived in America,” Lamell said. “The text I’ve written for the Largo movement tries to express what Dvorak might have been feeling when that music flowed from him.”

Despite last year’s fiscal challenges and the transition involved in passing the baton to Lamell in the middle of last year, the Santa Monica Symphony received standing ovations from an audience of nearly 1,000 at its first concert in November at Santa Monica High School’s Barnum Hall.

“Our players are wonderful and are thrilled to be able to share their love of music with their community,” Lamell said. “We look forward to an exciting and memorable concert this weekend.”

The Santa Monica Symphony will play this Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013, at 3:30 p.m. at SGI Auditorium, 525 Wilshire Blvd. Admission is free. For parking and other information please see the orchestra’s website at smsymphony.org.

in News
<>Related Posts

Congressman Secures $14.5M for Westside, San Fernando Valley Projects

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

The initiatives address wildfire mitigation, public safety, housing, and community services Congressman Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) announced that a key...

California Sues Trump Administration Over High-Speed Rail Funding Cut

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

Newsom described the move as a “heartless attack on the Central Valley,” threatening jobs and livelihoods Governor Gavin Newsom announced...

City Launches Free RAMP Webinar for Small Businesses

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

The online event aims to help small businesses tap into procurement opportunities across Southern California through the RAMP platform The...

Venice Family Clinic Slams HHS Funding Restrictions as Assault on Immigrants

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

HHS announced on July 10 that it would restrict access to programs like community health centers, Head Start, and other...

Former Hammer Museum Director Receives Getty Prize, Awards $500,000 to NPR

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

Philbin’s tenure at the Hammer saw the launch of the Hammer Projects series and the Made in L.A. biennial, alongside...

Salt & Straw Celebrates Ice Cream Week with Strawberry Shortcake Waffle Cone Through the Weekend

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

The item launched nationwide, available with any ice cream flavor or as an exclusive sundae featuring Strawberry Honey Balsamic ice...

LAX Metro Transit Center Boosts K Line Ridership, Overall Metro Sees Slight Decline

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

The station completes the K Line, allowing continuous service from Expo/Crenshaw Station to Redondo Beach and enhancing regional connectivity through...

Santa Monica College to Perform “Seussical (Theatre for Young Audiences)”

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

The 75-minute family-friendly musical, set in the Jungle of Nool, follows Horton the elephant as he protects a speck of...

Man Arrested in Brentwood for Impersonating Firefighter During Palisades Fire

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

The suspect faces at least 28 criminal counts—including 23 felonies—spanning incidents from 2023 to May 2025 Federal and local law...

West Coast Premiere of ‘The Opposite of Love’ Opens at Hudson Backstage Theatre

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

Produced by Neil Gooding Productions, behind shows like Back to the Future: The Musical, the play runs Thursdays through Saturdays at...

Study Highlights Economic Impact of Cap-and-Trade Extension in Los Angeles

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

Governor Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders are pushing to reauthorize the program this year, citing its role in generating 287,000...

Film Review: Superman

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

“This movie is packed with storyline, Superman lore, meaningful objects, and action.” writes Kathryn Whitney Boole Rated PG-13129 MinutesReleased July...

Multiple Drug Arrests Reported in Palisades Park in Recent Weeks

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

SMPD Reported Several of the Arrests Between June 29 and July 5 The Santa Monica Police Department reported several drug-related...

(Video) Did You Know Emma Chamberlain’s Coffee Shop is in Century City?

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

The outpost is a first for the popular influencer Did You Know Emma Chamberlain’s Coffee Shop is in Century City?...

Mayor Bass Hails National Guard Withdrawal as Victory for Unity

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

The Pentagon’s decision to reduce the troop presence follows weeks of legal challenges and public demonstrations Mayor Karen Bass celebrated...