We were unable to observe Black History Month during the month of February due to the icy weather. The University of Mississippi Department of Music has rescheduled it’s performance of the Black History Month Concert for this Thursday. The UM Concert Band, Steel Drum Orchestra, and the World Percussion Ensemble will not be able to perform at this event, due to scheduling conflicts, but they will perform some of their scheduled pieces during their respective spring concerts.
This annual series of Black History Month concerts was started in 2004 by associate professor George Dor. Black History Month is intended to celebrate African-Americans and other people of African descent. A way of honoring the preceding is to acknowledge their significant contributions to different spheres of our lives.
The repertoire of the concert features works of black composers, genres created and
developed by African-Americans, Africans and Caribbean people, and arrangements in the stylistic veins of African-American and African music traditions by musicians/composers of any cultural background. Ghanaian dances and compositions by William Grant Still, Michael Ndow, John Rosamond Johnson, Daniel Kelley, Mary Lou Williams and Oliver Nelson will be performed.
Featured ensembles include the Ole Miss African Drum and Dance Ensemble, directed by Dor; and the Mississippians Jazz Ensemble, directed by Michael Worthy.
Music student soloists are George Money, vibraphone; Christopher Scott, saxophone; Kashaun Wortham, violoncello; Brandon Collins, clarinet; and Jasmaine Wilbert, lead voice.
A UM wind quintet also is scheduled to perform. Members include Donnie McGee, flute; Pamela Ponce, oboe; Kim Cassisa, clarinet; Traces Brooks, horn; and Madison Lorenzo, bassoon. Accompanists are Gordon Jason and Stacy Rodgers.
“This year’s concert features mainly instrumental ensembles and music,” Dor said. “Next year’s will return to emphasis on vocal genres. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, ‘Diversity is … a beautiful symphony of humanity.’ I consider all of us as members of that symphony.”
The Department of Music has partnered with the Gertrude C. Ford Center, the Office of the Chancellor, the Office of the Provost, the Center for Inclusion and Cross-Cultural Engagement, and the Inn at Ole Miss to make this event a success. 
Free Admission
