Pioneer Valley Symphony

Tianhui Ng and Dr. Allegra Martin lead the PVS Orchestra and Chorus in our 85th season finale featuring the music of three African American composers looking with hope toward a just future. ABOUT THE PROGRAM: William Grant Still's second Symphony, Song of a New Race, describes elements of the African American experience through history and brings classical Western orchestral composition together with blues and jazz to paint a united future for a diverse America. In “Credo,” prolific composer Margaret Bonds sets W. E. B. Du Bois’ prose poem to sensitive and powerful music, sung by the PVS Chorus with soloists Brianna J. Robinson and Nicholas LaGesse. Mary D. Watkins’ “Dark River” tells the story of Civil Rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer’s fight for justice and racial equality. This moving opera reflects the complexity and emotion of the time period through interwoven elements of jazz, blues, and gospel. The PVS Chorus will be performing selections featuring Brianna J. Robinson as the title role. PVS' resident musicologist, Dr. David Schneider, Georges Lurcy Professor of Music & History at Amherst College, joins us at 6PM for a pre-concert talk. - - - - - - - - THIS SEASON, WE ARE OFFERING CONCERT…