On Friday, March 17, 2017, one of America’s premiere college choral groups, the Dillard University Concert Choir, will be performing in Houston at 7 p.m. at the Metropolitan CME Church, (“The Met”) as the first stop on its 2017 national tour. The church is located at 8955 South Freeway (288 @ Reed Rd.) in Houston, TX.
This will be the 7th consecutive year that the Dillard Choir has launched its national tour from Houston. Over the last 44 years, the Dillard Choir has been under the direction of internationally-acclaimed lyric tenor Dr. S. Carver Davenport.
The Dillard Choir is an exceptionally well-trained and talented University choral group with a long and distinguished performing history, and has a repertoire which includes both the traditional music of the Black experience, as well as the classics, folk and popular music of the contemporary era. In December, 2013 the Dillard University Choir was granted the honor of performing at the White House for then President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama during the Christmas Holiday season.
According to Dillard Alumni chapter President Charles Ladd,” the musical and vocal artistry of this 40 voice choir will touch the soul and fill the listener with overflowing aesthetic admiration.”
In previous Houston appearances, the audiences have been mesmerized by the musical artistry and extraordinary vocal talent of this unparalleled college choir. The Dillard Choir will perform traditional spirituals and sacred music, along with the music of globally renowned composer, arranger, director and pianist Moses Hogan, as well as a stunning candlelight rendition of Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Come Sweet Death.”
Dillard University, under the current leadership of university president Dr. Walter Kimbrough, is a small liberal arts University based in New Orleans that is nationally known and highly ranked Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the nation. The Dillard Choir tour serves to promote and support Dillard’s emphasis on “Excellence and Heritage” as it prepares its students to academically competent, socially responsible and culturally aware to compete and serve others in the global environment of the 21st century. Houston has historically provided Dillard University with a pool of highly talented students, who have become very successful graduates and professionals.
The entire Houston community is cordially invited to the concert, which is free and open to the public and is family friendly. Music lovers, choral groups and choirs of all kind, are especially invited to experience this musical treat.
For more information, contact event coordinator Dr. Mtangulizi Sanyika at 713-376-3364, wazuri@aol.com or contact Metropolitan CME Church at 713-748-5947 or Metrocme@aol.com.