Each year in partnership with The Kennedy Center, Georgetown University present the annual "Let Freedom Ring" celebration in the center’s majestic concert hall. This performance marked the ninth year of Reverend Nolan Williams as the music director. Just a week ago, Williams conducted the National Symphony Orchestra in a program honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. program at THEARC. Last night's concert commemorating the life and work of the slain civil rights leader is perhaps one of the most highly attended, and certainly plentiful of stellar musical artistry in D.C. Past guest artists have included Kennedy Center honorees Ossie Davis and Jessye Norman, Yolanda Adams, Brian McKnight and Aretha Franklin, among many others. What a vision the choir was-diverse voices: blacks, whites, young, old and otherwise joining their voices in songs that roused the hearts and engaged the minds of the capacity audience.
Certainly, the evening was not just about the music, but to honor Georgetown professor, Clarence B. Jones with the Legacy of a Dream Award. In the words of his acceptance speech, Jones dedicated the award to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whom he served with for many years during the Civil Rights Movement. Georgetown president John J. DeGioa and the award’s namesake, former Georgetown men’s basketball coach, John Thompson presented the award to the living legend.
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama were present at the performance. Among the special guests seated with the First Family were Reverend Raphael Warnock, pastor of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and Reverend Al Sharpton. Immediately capturing the spirit of the occasion was an original arrangement by Nolan Williams entitled “Buses Are A-Comin.” Georgetown students Alex Pelle and Annise Pickens lead the “Freedom Riders” inspired songs with a sense of musical conviction. With the a cappella solo voices riding above the repetitive pattern of the drum, the two voices soon blossomed into the full crescendo of the choir. The sentiment of freedom was felt by the capacity audience, who was most gracious in their applause.
Soloist Nova Nelson joined the choir for “My Country Tis of Thee.” Basking in the vastness of the audience, her reserve soon became full vocal abandonment, with the raw power of her voice grabbing the audience. Soul stirring, fervent and sincere are a few of the adjectives to describe the effect of Ms. Nelson’s offering. Just when it was thought that no more vocal wonders would surface, Bobby McFerrin took the stage. A man of a quiet, regal presence, McFerrin commanded the audience on arrival in the simplicity of his spirit. In many ways, the artistry of his performance was a mirror homage to Dr. King. McFerrin’s voice at times sounded appropriately like the rushing water, the fluttering of a lone bird and at times like an unearthly ethereal beauty. McFerrin’s music used his entire being: his hands, feet and his voice to communicate the simple tenet of humanity. McFerrin is the son of the late opera singer, Robert McFerrin, the first African-American male to sing at the Metropolitan Opera. Perhaps one of the most exciting performances of the evening was the exchange between soloist Nova Nelson with Bobby McFerrin. McFerrin would toss a vocal pattern into the musical atmosphere and Nelson would copy it precisely. It was a perfect example of the “one up manship” that often occur between soloists in gospel music. Audience members got in on the act, with McFerrin passing the mic to members of the front row. One unidentified audience member surprised everyone with a rendition that was almost as good as those offered by the performers. With the music ended and spirits lifted, the fervor of the performers reminded all that there is still much work to do. Let Freedom Ring!
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