Des Moines audiences will be treated to a glorious celebration of the legacy of Black music and the Beloved Community, with LIFT EVERY VOICE IN LOVE: Benefit Concert for Grubb YMCA Youth. Coming Feb. 24th, 4:00 pm on First United Methodist Church’s Music Under the Dome series, the program features the exhuberant Broadway and Gospel performer Roosevelt André Credit, singing from the Black “songbook” of Spirituals, Jazz, Broadway, Opera, Gospel and Pop. The new Beloved Des Moines Community Mass Choir will offer some great Gospel songs, and Iowa’s true musical legend, Simon Estes, will serve as Master of Ceremonies. The concert’s organizers, an unprecedented collaboration of leaders from twelve urban, downtown and suburban churches, hope to raise $75,000 for Youth Development Programming of the YMCA in Des Moines’ urban core neighborhoods.
A Free Ticket on-line is required at eventbrite.com, with an expectation of as generous a tax-deductible donation as possible to the youth of the YMCA at dmYMCA.org/lifteveryvoice, or at the event using the envelope provided. Special Reserved Seating in front is available for a donation of $125.00 per seat. Please see Sponsor/Donor information at dmFIRSTchurch.org/lifteveryvoice for the different levels of giving and recognition.
Go to dmFIRSTchurch.org/lifteveryvoice for ticket and general information, or go right to eventbrite.com and search for Lift Every Voice in Love. You can also go through dmYMCA.org/lifteveryvoice.
Roosevelt André Credit has built a Des Moines fanbase with a dozen appearances since 2001. Originally from Oakland, California, “Roo” moved to New York to join the cast of Hal Prince’s Tony-Award-winning revival of SHOWBOAT in 1996, and has been there ever since. With Broadway appearances in THE GERSHWINS’ PORGY AND BESS, LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER, JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER and the TOWN HALL TRIBUTE TO JEROME KERN, he also appeared in the Metropolitan Opera production of PORGY AND BESS, and the Met’s recent production of X: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MALCOM X, among others. Immediately following the concert Roo will join The American Spiritual Ensemble in Lexington, KY to begin a tour of the Southeast. Roo will be accompanied by Margaret Katherine Jellison of Bangor, Maine.
Youtube: “Roosevelt Credit” | rooseveltcredit.com
The program also features Iowa’s favorite son, international opera star Simon Estes, in a new role– Master of Ceremonies. Mr. Estes performed 104 operatic roles in 84 opera houses, sang with 115 orchestras under 90 of the world’s most eminent conductors. Retired from singing in public, Mr. Estes is glad to help Iowa’s youth with his awe-inspiring speaking voice. He’ll greet the audience, interview some Grubb Y kids, and share some dramatic readings from scripture with his profoundly powerful oratory.
Rounding out the program will be a new choir on the scene, The Beloved Des Moines Community Mass Choir, sharing Gospel music with singers from the twelve urban, downtown and suburban churches collaborating on the concert. Sister Kim Jones of Mt. Hebron Missionary Baptist will direct, and Barry Jones will lead his band from Corinthian Baptist Church with the Mass Choir.
Ben Allaway, director of music at First UMC, is the artistic director of Lift Every Voice in Love. Fundraising co-chairs are Pastors Jonathan Whitfield of Corinthian Baptist Church and Ryan Arnold of St. John’s Lutheran Church. Other churches participating are Mission Temple C.O.G.I.C., St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, King of Kings Missionary Baptist, St. Ambrose Cathedral, Ministerio Nuevos Amanecer (New Dawn Ministries), New Beginnings Christian, Burns UMC, and Grace UMC.
QUESTIONS? Contact Ben Allaway at 515-720-1038 or musicdirector@dmfirstchurch.org. The church office is 515-244-6209. dmFIRSTchurch.org/lifteveryvoice

URL:
Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/2229223-0?pid=6647

Category: Arts | Performing Arts | Theatre | Musical

Price:
Free: USD 0.00