All Classical Portland & New York’s WQXR Presents An African American Requiem | Live Broadcast Featuring Oregon Symphony, Portland Composer Damien Geter

From our sponsors:
An African American Requiem
May 7, 2022
5:50PM | Free Broadcast | All Ages
More info: allclassical.org

Listen Live @ 89.9 FM in Portland or anywhere in the world at allclassical.org

On Saturday, May 7, 2022, All Classical Portland is partnering with WQXR in New York to present a simultaneous live broadcast of the world premiere of Portland composer Damien Geter’s ‘An African American Requiem.’

The first-of-its-kind Requiem was commissioned by Portland’s Resonance Ensemble and will be performed with the Oregon Symphony, and special guests including Portland poet and narrator Dr. S. Renee Mitchell. The live broadcast will be available at 5:50 PM PT (8:50 PM ET) at 89.9 FM in Portland, 105.9 FM in New York, and streaming worldwide at allclassical.org.

This broadcast is generously sponsored by First Republic Bank.

“As a Black composer in today’s America, I feel like I’ve been writing this my entire life,” says Damien Geter. “I was hoping there would be a time we wouldn’t need this piece, but I think we always will. I hope An African American Requiem leads to important action that affects change.”

The requiem includes African American spirituals as well as texts from civil rights activists Ida B. Wells and Jamilia Land. It also highlights words dedicated to Eric Garner, a line from a poem by Antwon Rose, and words written and performed by Portland poet Dr. S. Renee Mitchell.

Originally slated to premiere in April 2020, the requiem was put on hold due to the ongoing global pandemic. The renewed production will feature the Oregon Symphony and the African American Requiem Choir, made up of singers from Resonance Ensemble, Kingdom Sound Gospel Choir, and Portland-based choirs. William Eddins will conduct, and Resonance’s Artistic Director Dr. Katherine FitzGibbon will prepare the chorus. The concert will also feature a quartet of renowned African American opera singers: Brandie Sutton, soprano; Karmesha Peake, mezzo-soprano; Bernard Holcomb, tenor; and Kenneth Overton, baritone.

The radio broadcast will be co-hosted by Suzanne Nance, All Classical Portland President and CEO, and Terrance McKnight, WQXR’s evening host. All Classical Portland‘s Sarah Zwinklis and WQXR’s Eileen Delahunty will produce the program.

Those interested in attending the May 7 performance in-person at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall can visit the Oregon Symphony’s website at orsymphony.org for tickets and more information.

To listen and learn more about the live broadcast and All Classical Portland, visit allclassical.org.