‘We Shall Overcome’ – A Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Come to Heritage Center
Jan 14, 2020
DUBUQUE, Iowa – University of Dubuque Heritage Center continues its seventh annual Live at Heritage Center Performing Arts Series with Damien Sneed’s We Shall Overcome – A Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18, in John and Alice Butler Hall.
WHAT: Damien Sneed’s We Shall Overcome – A Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Live at Heritage Center Performing Arts Series
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18
WHERE: John and Alice Butler Hall, Heritage Center, University of Dubuque
TICKETS: UD Students: First ticket free, additional tickets $5 in advance, $9 day of show; UD Faculty/Staff, Alumni, Parents of Current UD Students, Military, and Veterans: $19-$34 in advance, $24-$39 day of show; General Public: $25-$39 in advance, $30-$44 day of show; Non-UD Students and Children: $15 in advance, $20 day of show
* Free UD student admission made possible by UD Student Government Association, Black Student Union, and UD Concert Choir.
Inspired by the words and action of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., We Shall Overcome showcases repertoire from across the African American music traditions that electrified generations of civil rights activists and defenders with interwoven spoken word from King’s recorded speeches. The production features a full ensemble of vocals and instrumentals with music that includes traditional and modern gospel, classical, jazz, Broadway, and spirituals. UD Concert Choir and UD Gospel Choir, both under the direction of Kristen Eby, are special guests.
As a multi-instrumentalist and producer, Sneed has worked with jazz, classical, pop, and R&B legends including the late Aretha Franklin and Jessye Norman as well as Wynton Marsalis, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Ashford & Simpson, Lawrence Brownlee, and many others.
Sneed recently premiered his new opera, We Shall Overcome – Our Journey: 400 Years from Africa to Jamestown,” in Carnegie Hall’s Isaac Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage for the Sphinx Organization Gala sponsored by JPMorgan Chase and Robert Smith. Additionally, he was commissioned to compose a new chamber opera titled Marian’s Song about the life of Marian Anderson for Houston Grand Opera, which will have its world premiere March 5 at the Cullen Theater at the Wortham Center in Houston. He was also commissioned to compose a symphony in honor of the Tuskegee Airmen that will have its world premiere in summer 2020 in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
On Jan. 10, he released the deluxe edition of the 2019 CD, Damien Sneed: We Shall Overcome, on his label, LeChateau Earl Records, which was established to reflect his varied musical interests.
A free 30-minute special lecture precedes We Shall Overcome at 6:30 p.m. in Babka Theatre. Brian Hallstoos, associate professor of history, will discuss the life and legacy of King.
Tickets for We Shall Overcome can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Farber Box Office, Heritage Center, University of Dubuque, 2255 Bennett Street; by phone at 563.585.SHOW; or online at www.dbq.edu/heritagecenter.
