Amazing Grace

Drew Peterson, pianist

Josephine Baker

John Edward Hasse, guest curator

Felix Conteras, conga

Ellington Carthan, pianist and narrator

Jeffrey Mumford, guest curator

Annie Jacobs-Perkins, cello

Katerina Burton, soprano

CAAPA Choir

Robin De Jesús, actor

David Strathairn, actor

Kevork Mourad, artist

Derek Goldman, playwright/director

José Sacín, bass baritone (Don Quihote)

Israel Lozano, tenor (Master Peter)

Jennifer Zetlan, soprano (Trujaman)

Ricardo Marlow, Flamenco guitar

Philip Kennicott, guest curator

Hany Hassan FAIA, visuals

Flávio Chamis, guest curator

André Mehmari, pianist and composer

Tatjana Mead Chamis, viola

Elin Melgarejo, vocalist

Jerod Tate, guest curator

Nino Rota, composer

Amazing Grace: Music for the Spirit
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Amazing Grace is perhaps one of the most beloved folk hymns, uplifting people around the world for centuries. Join PCE as we ring in the new year with Amazing Grace: Music for the Spirit, the first of what will be a seasonal family-concert tradition. Hear versions of Amazing Grace woven throughout the program along with African-American spirituals, works by William Grant Still, J. S. Bach, Evelyn Simpson Curenton, and one of the most celebrated American composers alive today, Adolphus Hailstork. Audiences will leave this stirring program for chorale and orchestra reminded why music is known as the universal expression of the human spirit, ending with a joyous sing-along not to be missed.

PostClassical Ensemble will be joined by guest soloists tenor Wayne Jennings and soprano Angeli Ferrette, bass Justin Harrison, the CAAPA Chorale, with Guest Curation by Stanley J Thurston (The Heritage Signature Chorale, Washington National Cathedral).

Adolphus Hailstork, one of the most celebrated American composers, will also join us on stage to receive PCE’s American Roots Artist Award.

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Program

READ Meet our Guest Curator Stanley J. Thruston

READ Background Program Notes

READ Dr. Adolphus Hailstork and PCE’s American Roots Artist Award

WATCH Learn more about CAAPA

‍Amazing Grace: Music For The Spirit

‍Wednesday, January 11, 2023, 7:30pm

Terrace Theater | The Kennedy Center | 2700 F St NW, Washington, DC

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Stanley J. Thurston, guest curator

Evelyn Simpson Curenton, piano

Angeli Ferrette, soprano

Wayne Jennings, tenor

Justin Harrison, bass

CAAPA Chorale

Andre Leonard, piano

PostClassical Ensemble conducted by Angel Gil-Ordóñez

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Program

Spirituals
Let Us Break Bread Together
arr. Jacqueline Hairston
Sweet Little Jesus Boy
arr. Stanley Thurston
I Can Tell the World
arr. Moses Hogan (a cappella)
William Grant Still: Scherzo (“Humor”) from Symphony No. 1
Adolphus Hailstork: I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes‍
I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes
How Long?
The Lord Is My Shepherd. Alleluia
J.S. Bach: Herz und Mund - Tat und Leben – Cantata BWV 147
Bereite dir, Jesu, noch itzo die Bahn
Ich will von Jesu Wundern singen
Jesus bleibet meine Freude
John Newton: Amazing Grace
arr. Evelyn Simpson Curenton

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Post-Concert Discussion with Adolphus Hailstork, Stanley J. Thurston, Angel Gil-Ordóñez

Presented without intermission

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What people are saying

So many thanks for that most inspiring, capacious evening. With PCE’s usual ability to surprise and delight… that symphony was astonishing…

Kate

Your leadership and dramatic shaping of the Symphony last night was truly masterful - and so inspiring. I know I’ll never forget this experience. Thank you, Maestro!

Chris

I loved the intimacy of the ensemble and the aching beauty of the melody repeating and recurring and turning up where I did not expect it . And I found the quality of the sound thrilling.

That was my take on the concert --that and the tears that it brought to my eyes, simply to be there, to be present at the creation of something so beautiful..

Michaele

What a perfect PCE evening, wonderful concert and lovely gathering

Liz

Angel, You are so musical! I've played the 4th twice, it was the first Mahler I heard as a kid, and I'm invariably disappointed that conductors don't let it breathe. U nailed it.

David

Congratulations again to you and your superb ensemble on a wonderful and provocative performance in the Terrace Theater last evening. As always, we learned something from this concert and it was fun, too.

Alec

Everything about it was sheer delight, including the lively and interesting talk at the end…

Catherine