15th Annual MLK Jr. Concert & Celebration

On Saturday, January 16th, 2016 the Brooklyn Music School will present our 15th Annual Martin Luther King Concert & Celebration, presenting a range of musical and dance performances that celebrate the legacy of Dr. King and honor those whose accomplishments and contributions advance the causes of human dignity and equality that he fought and died for.

 “Brooklyn Music School is all about bringing people together and celebrating the rich mixture of heritages and cultural traditions that make both Brooklyn such a creative and influential community,” said BMS Executive Director, Piruz Partow. “Especially during this time of renewed concerns about equitable treatment of all Americans, no matter what their skin color or economic circumstances, the legacy of Dr. King continues to inspire us as musicians, students, parents, and citizens. What better way to show our solidarity, than to gather together for an evening of soul-rousing music and performance?”

MLK Music & Dance Performances

The concert will feature a variety of musical styles that reflect the spirit, ideas, and legacy of Dr. King, who once said: “People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don't know each other; they don't know each other because they have not communicated with each other.”

 The event will include:

  • The Arts Reaching Youth Choir singing “I’m Heading to the Promised Land”
  • The Choir on Fire and BMS Rock Band performing “One Love,” “What’s Going On,” and “Glory”
  • Djembe drummers 
  • Myea Patterson singing the spiritual “Were You There (When They Crucified My Lord)”

In addition, there will be a performance by the BMS Jazz Band, songs by Billie Holiday, and Afro-Cuban and hip-hop dance numbers.

Honoring Exceptional Contribution of Shawn Dove

In addition to music and performing arts, BMS will also honor those who through their own lives have carried to the torch of Dr. King’s vision into the present day. This year’s honoree is Shawn Dove, CEO of Campaign for Black Male Achievement,  a national membership network that seeks to ensure the growth, sustainability, and impact of leaders and organizations committed to improving the life outcomes of black men and boys.

Founded via George Soros’s Open Society Foundations, the Campaign for Black Male Achievement is a multi-issue, cross-fund strategy to address black men and boys' exclusion from economic, social, educational, and political life in the United States. The campaign responds to a growing body of research that reveals the intensification of black males' negative life outcomes, and works to reduce incarceration, promote racial justice, and support youth engagement and leadership development.

 “Shawn’s work in areas across the arts, racial justice, economic opportunity, and leadership development takes the legacy of Dr. King forward into our era in a bold and imaginative way,” said Crocker Coulson, trustee of BMS. “The Board of Trustees is honored to recognize his achievement at this event which is very special to many in our surrounding communities of Fort Greene and beyond.”

Prior to leading CBMA, Mr. Dove served as Creative Communities Director for the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts where he led and managed the start-up of a youth development, arts education and community building strategy that partnered community schools of the arts and public housing communities in 20 U.S. cities, and was vice president of the MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership. 

The Concert and Ceremony will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Saturday, January 16th 2016 at the Brooklyn Music School Theater at 126 St Felix Street, Brooklyn NY 11217 (between Lafayette Ave & Hanson Place). Admission is $5 with a “pay what you can option.”

 To reserve your seats for what is expected to be a popular event please click link above.

 For more information about the event call us at (718) 638-5660.