A Celebration of the Spiritual and Gospel Music, 3/22, Apollo Theater

Contact: Public Affairs | Phone: 212-903-9750 | E-mail: publicaffairs@carnegiehall.org

**Artist Update: A Celebration of the Spiritual and Gospel Music, 3/22**

VOCALIST BYRON CAGE AND OTHER ARTISTS,
HOSTS SOLEDAD O’BRIEN AND JONATHAN SLOCUMB ADDED TO LINEUP OF
A CELEBRATION OF THE SPIRITUAL AND GOSPEL MUSIC
ON SUNDAY, MARCH 22 AT 5:00 PM AT THE APOLLO THEATER

Concert, Part of Carnegie Hall’s Citywide Honor! Festival, Features Vocalists
Shirley Caesar, Richard Smallwood, and Sweet Honey In The Rock among others

(March 19, 2009)—Carnegie Hall today announced artist updates for its presentation of A Celebration of the Spiritual and Gospel Music taking place at the Apollo Theater this Sunday, March 22 at 5:00 p.m. The performance—part of the month-long festival Honor! A Celebration of the African American Cultural Legacy curated by soprano Jessye Norman—is one of two special programs presented this weekend in partnership with the Apollo Theater offering audiences the opportunity to be immersed in the traditions of the Spiritual and gospel music through discussion and performance.

At the Sunday concert, newly announced artists are singer Byron Cage, African drummer Gary Fritz, dancer Josh Johnson (from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater), and Ray Chew’s Gospel Ensemble with the Greater Allen Church Choir as well as hosts Soledad O’Brien of CNN and comedian Jonathan Slocumb. They will join previously announced singers and choirs Shari Addison, Shirley Caesar, Smokie Norful, Richard Smallwood, The Abyssinian Baptist Church Cathedral Choir, Hezekiah Walker and the Love Fellowship Choir, Sweet Honey In The Rock, and Vy Higginsen's Gospel for Teens for a joyous program that traces the Spiritual from its African roots. Ray Chew, musical director of NBC’s The Singing Bee, Showtime At the Apollo, and BET’s Sunday Best, serves as the concert’s musical director. Previously announced vocalist Donnie McClurkin is unable to appear.

Preceding this performance on Saturday, March 21 at 7:00 p.m. also at the Apollo Theater is a panel discussion that explores the historical, political, and musical issues associated with the Spiritual and gospel music. Participants include Derrick Bell, Professor of Constitutional Law at the New York University School of Law; Dr. Calvin O. Butts III, Pastor of The Abyssinian Baptist Church; Portia Maultsby, Professor of Folklore and Ethnomusicology at Indiana University; performer, arranger, and musical director Chapman Roberts; composer, performer, and Professor of Music at University of California at Berkley Olly Wilson; and members of the renowned a cappella ensemble Sweet Honey In The Rock.

Concert Information
Sunday, March 22 at 5:00 p.m.
A CELEBRATION OF THE SPIRITUAL AND GOSPEL MUSIC
Apollo Theater
253 West 125th Street
New York, NY
Ray Chew, Musical Director
Soledad O'Brien, Host
Jonathan Slocumb, Host
Shari Addison, Vocalist
Shirley Caesar, Vocalist
Byron Cage, Vocalist
Smokie Norful, Vocalist
Richard Smallwood, Vocalist
The Abyssinian Baptist Church Cathedral Choir
Hezekiah Walker and the Love Fellowship Choir
Sweet Honey In The Rock
Vy Higginsen's Gospel for Teens
Gary Fritz, African Drums
Josh Johnson, Dancer (from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater)
Ray Chew's Gospel Ensemble with the Greater Allen Church Choir

Presented by Carnegie Hall in partnership with the Apollo Theater.

Major funding for Honor! A Celebration of the African American Cultural Legacy has been provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, The Alice Tully Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation's New York City Cultural Innovation Fund, Howard University, and the A. L. and Jennie L. Luria Foundation.

The opening performance of Honor! is sponsored by Bank of America.

Honor! is made possible, in part, by public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Bank of America is the Proud Season Sponsor of Carnegie Hall.

Ticket Information
Tickets, priced at $45, are available at the Apollo Theater Box Office, TicketMaster (212) 307-7171, or apollotheater.org. For further information call (212) 531-5305.

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