PRIZM Chamber Orchestra’s June 18 concert (First Baptist Church Broad Avenue) will feature a stunning work by Joel Thompson called “Seven Last Words of the Unarmed,” for orchestra and men’s chorus under the direction of Roderick Vester. Mr. Thompson’s work is a musical eulogy of sorts to unarmed black men killed in America. The piece’s movements have names such as Trayvon Martin, Amadou Diallo, Michael Brown, and Eric Garner. In addition to the Thompson work, the Clayborn Temple concert will feature images provided by the Ernest Withers Gallery as well as appearances by Justin Merrick among others.
To start the night, PRIZM Chamber Orchestra will perform Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante for winds featuring four soloists who are also people of color: clarinetist Mariam Adam (formerly of the Imani Winds), Washington on bassoon, oboist Titus Underwood (principal oboist of the Nashville Symphony), and hornist Ayman Al Fakir (Royal Swedish Opera Orchestra). PRIZM Chamber Orchestra will also perform Jerald Walker, Jr.’s Symphony No. 3, a piece composed by a young alumnus of PRIZM’s Music Camp.
The event will close with “Glory” (Common and John Legend’s Oscar-winning song for the film Selma), emphasizing the hope, dreams, and resilience rooted in what it means to be American. Justin Merrick will be featured as the vocal soloist.