The Nathaniel Dett Chorale Commemorates 10th Anniversary Season With Culturally Rich Concert Series

The Nathaniel Dett Chorale

commeMOrateS 10^th anniversary season

Founder, Artistic Director Brainerd Blyden-Taylor

For Immediate Release, Monday, February 9, 2009 - 2009 is a landmark year for Toronto’Äôs Nathaniel Dett Chorale. Their triumphant Washington-based performances during the recent US Presidential Inauguration were heralded as Canada’Äôs gift to the American public ’Äì a sentiment that brought the Chorale congratulations and accolades from coast to coast. On Wednesday, February 25^th and Saturday, February 28^th, The Nathaniel Dett Chorale will celebrate yet another milestone as they commemorate their 10^th Anniversary Season with Voices of the Diaspora, a musical evening which will reunite a host of Chorale members at the the acoustically dazzling Glenn Gould Studio in the Canadian Broadcasting Centre.

A powerful program, Voices of the Diaspora pays tribute to Africa’Äôs cultural, artistic and creative impact by featuring favourite R. Nathaniel Dett works alongside several contemporary Afrocentric compositions including the Canadian premiere of ’ÄúThe Angel Spoke" by Robert L. Norris; the Ontario premiere of ’ÄúAfrica’Äù by Brian Tate a work commissioned for the National Youth Choir and containing a combination of Ghanaian and Latin sacred texts; as well as an encore performance of ’ÄúGo Down Death’Äù by Canadian composer Stewart Goodyear.

Named for the celebrated African-Canadian composer, The Nathaniel Dett Chorale is Canada's first professional choral group dedicated to Afrocentric music of all styles, including classical, spiritual, gospel, jazz, folk and blues. The Chorale is comprised of classically trained, multi-faceted vocalists whose work stretches beyond the traditional repertoire of a classical chamber choir, challenging audiences to broaden their vision to include all genres of music appropriate to the traditions of the African diaspora. The thrilling 21-voice Chorale is directed by Brainerd Blyden-Taylor and has performed its jubilant repertoire extensively throughout North America, sharing the stage with internationally recognized artists such as Juno Award-winning jazz pianist Joe Sealy, opera star Kathleen Battle, and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. During its 10-year history, The Nathaniel Dett Chorale has showcased a remarkable spectrum of talent with alumni that include soprano Measha Bruggergosman, impresario Andrew Craig, and Alana Bridgewater, star of the hit musical We Will Rock You.

Share the Music, an arts and education outreach program presented by the Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall with the purpose of enriching the lives of young people through exposure to world-class performers and related educational activities, has purchased 30 tickets for underserved youth to attend The Nathaniel Dett Chorale’Äôs February 28th performance. The young guests will also attend an intimate pre-concert chat by Artistic Director Brainerd -Blyden Taylor.

Tickets for the Glenn Gould Studio series available in person at the Roy Thomson Hall box office, 60 Simcoe St., by calling 416.872.4255 or online at www.roythomson.com.

For more information please visit www.nathanieldettchorale.org.