FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Cindy Deppe, media relations, 641-269-4834

November 6, 2007

GRINNELL COLLEGE GOSPEL CHOIR, ORCHESTRA TO PERFORM MLK COMMEMORATIVE CONCERT

Grinnell College’s Young, Gifted, and Black Gospel Choir and the Grinnell Symphony Orchestra will commemorate the 40th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s campus visit with a combined performance on Saturday, Nov. 17, at 2 p.m. in Herrick Chapel on the Grinnell College campus.

A highlight of the combined concert will be the performance of Joseph Schwantner’s "New Morning for the World." Pastor Ro, a minister, social activist, and publisher from Shreveport, La., will narrate Schwantner’s powerful score, which combines King’s words with colorful musical.

The concert also celebrates the 40th birthday of the Young, Gifted, and Black Gospel Choir, which began at Grinnell in 1967 when six black first-year students came together to share their common experience with gospel music. In addition to the combined performance with the Grinnell Symphony, the gospel choir will also sing several works of their own.

The commemorative performance is free and open to the public; no tickets are required. Herrick Chapel is located at the intersection of Park St. and 7th Ave. on the Grinnell College campus. For more information about music events at Grinnell, go to http://web.grinnell.edu/music/events3.html

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