Taking place at 7:00 pm on Sunday, January 17, at Schermerhorn Symphony Center, the program, “Let Freedom Sing” becomes the Nashville Symphony’s 23rd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day concert, will celebrate the triumphs of the civil rights movement with a mix of spirituals, popular songs and classical selections. Along with the Nashville Symphony, featured performers include the Celebration Chorus, Celebration Youth Chorus, spoken-word artist Stephanie Pruitt and Peruvian-born violinist Eduardo Rios, winner of the 2015 Sphinx Competition. The concert will also include the civil rights anthems “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and “We Shall Overcome,” Henri Vieuxtemps’ Violin Concerto No. 5, Jessi Montgomery’s moving orchestral work, “Soul Force” and “Glory” from the soundtrack to Selma. In addition, the Symphony has partnered with Choral Arts Link to co-commission a new work, “I Hear the Drum” by Nashville-based composer Dr. Cedric Dent that will be premiered at the concert.
