Cleveland Orchestra to perform 30th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Concert on January 17

Music Director Franz Welser-M��st to lead free program at Severance Hall featuring the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Chorus, the Central State University Chorus, and Sphinx Competition prizewinner Tony Rymer

Mayor Frank G. Jackson to participate in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Community Service Award presentation

Pre-concert talk with James Rose to begin at 6:00 p.m.

Concert to be broadcast live on WCLV, WCPN, and WNWV radio stations

CLEVELAND, December 17, 2009 ��� The Musical Arts Association and Mayor Frank G. Jackson today announced The Cleveland Orchestra���s 30th annual concert in celebration of the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. The concert will take place at Severance Hall on Sunday, January 17, 2010, at 7:00 p.m., under the direction of Franz Welser-M��st. The program will feature selections by Ludwig van Beethoven, Anton��n Dvo��k, and Aaron Copland, as well as spirituals and gospel songs. Performing as cello soloist in this year���s celebration concert is Sphinx Competition prizewinner Tony Rymer. The Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Chorus and the Central State University Chorus, prepared by William Henry Caldwell, also will participate.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Chorus is a 125-member volunteer chorus from the greater Cleveland community, and the internationally acclaimed Central State University Chorus (directed by William Henry Caldwell) is the official choir of Central State University, located in Wilberforce, Ohio. Cellist Tony Rymer, first-prize winner from the 2009 Sphinx Competition for Black and Latino string players, Senior Division, will make his Cleveland Orchestra debut as soloist in a performance of Dvo��k���s Cello Concerto in B minor, Opus 104 (First Movement). The Orchestra���s performance of Bernstein���s ���One Hand, One Heart��� from West Side Story features two students from John Hay High School: soprano Imaris Rivera and tenor Martin Parries.


PRE-CONCERT TALK WITH JAMES ROSE
James Rose, vice president, sales and national accounts for OEConnections, will give the pre-concert talk, beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the Concert Hall. The talk is free to ticket holders for the evening���s concert. A native of Detroit, Mr. Rose has served as mentor for Detroit Symphony Youth Orchestra musicians for more than 16 years, played horn with the Detroit Metropolitan Orchestra, and has been involved with the national Sphinx Competition.

COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS TO BE PRESENTED AT CONCERT
In cooperation with the City of Cleveland, The Cleveland Orchestra and the Greater Cleveland Partnership will present the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Community Service Awards at the Orchestra���s 2010 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Concert. Awards will be presented in recognition of the services and achievements of an individual, a business or organization, and a youth who have positively impacted Cleveland in the spirit of the teachings and example of Dr. King.