Adolphus Hailstork
The Orlando Philharmonic joins area organizations to present the world premiere
of Adolphus Hailstork’s new work, “Zora! We’re Calling You”
On Saturday, November 12, 2011, the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, the Zora Neale Hurston Festival for the Arts & Humanities, the Association to Preserve the Eatonville Community, the “Negro Spiritual” Scholarship Foundation Master Singers and the Florida Opera Theatre Chorus joined forces to present American Voices, a night of authentically American music, poetry and song honoring the legacy of author Zora Neale Hurston. The program featured music of Adolphus Hailstork, Frederick Delius and Aaron Copland, and culminated in the premiere of Hailstork’s new work, “Zora! We’re Calling You,” with libretto by Elizabeth Van Dyke.
The culmination of over two years of planning and collaboration, American Voices was supported by a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and a $45,000 grant from the Pabst Charitable Foundation for the Arts—an organization that values collaboration, diversification, and innovation in the arts.
“Hailstork is probably the best known of African American composers, with a track record of writing symphonic music,” said Orlando Philharmonic Music Director Christopher Wilkins. “He has written numerous award-winning choral and instrumental works, all performed by major symphony orchestras. He is perhaps best known as a writer of songs and composer for chorus, and for this reason, I knew he would be the perfect choice for the project.”
Wilkins says projects like American Voices are essential in fulfilling the orchestra’s mission.
“There’s a beautiful synergy created in a community when you step outside of your little foxhole, and get out and join with others,” says Wilkins. “It stretches each organization, always creating a sum that is greater than its parts.”
Orlando Philharmonic Executive Director David Schillhammer agrees.
“I like to think of the Orlando Philharmonic as a cornerstone cultural organization in the community,” he says. “We’re very flexible, and we’ve shown we can collaborate with theater, opera, ballet, museums, history, and now with literature. It’s such a wonderful way for an orchestra to extend its reach in the community.”
IMAGES FROM AMERICAN VOICES
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Dr. Adolphus Hailstork, Margery Pabst, Elizabeth Van Dyke
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Margery Pabst speaking with
Pabst Foundation Partners |
Alex Stevens and Mauricio Cespedes,
Musicians of the OPO |
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| David Schillhammer, Adolphus Hailstork, Elizabeth Van Dyke, Christopher Wilkins, Margery Pabst, and N.Y. Nathiri |
N.Y. Nathiri, Dr. Hiram Powell, Margery Pabst |
Margery Pabst and Deborah Taylor |
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Rick Lowe and Bill Tallent |
The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra |
Marcie Golgoski and James Brooks |
Listen to The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra - Super Series III - November 12, 2011
Christopher Wilkins, Conductor
Zora! We're Calling You - Adolphus Hailstork
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