Long time North Reading resident Don Miller is a member of the Andover Choral Society. Tickets are available at the door.
NORTH ANDOVER — The Andover Choral Society, directed by Dr. Michael Driscoll, is delighted to present the premiere performance of “Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight” by African-American classical composer Florence Price on Saturday, May 4 at 3 p.m. in the auditorium of North Andover High School.
Chicago-based composer Florence Price was the first African-American woman to have a composition performed by a major orchestra when the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performed her Symphony in E Minor in 1933. Price composed over 300 works, and her songs and arrangements were performed by some of the most admired voices of her day, including Marian Anderson and Leontyne Price.
In 2009, a substantial collection of Price’s works and papers was found in an abandoned house on the outskirts of Chicago. The collection included her choral composition entitled “Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight.” No evidence has yet been discovered indicating that her setting of this piece for chorus, soloists, and piano has been performed publicly. The chorus will sing from a new performing edition of this work, prepared by Dr. Driscoll, from Price’s unpublished manuscript.
This concert is supported in part by an Alfred Nash Patterson Grant from Choral Arts New England.
The concert program will also include a medley of much-loved pieces by George Gershwin and a performance by the Andover Baptist Church Unity Choir. Guest soloists will be Kynesha Patterson, soprano, and Philip Lima, baritone. Valerie Becker will be the concert pianist.
Tickets are $20 for adults in advance ($25 at the door) and $5 for students. A group rate of $15 per ticket is available for purchases of 10 or more tickets. For tickets and information, please call 978-682-4050 or visit andoverchoralsociety.org.
North Andover High School is located at 430 Osgood Street and is handicapped accessible. Off-street parking is available in the school’s parking lot.
The Andover Choral Society participates in the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Card to Culture program, a joint venture between the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), the Massachusetts Cultural Council and many of the Commonwealth’s best cultural institutions. EBT Card to Culture allows those receiving benefits from the DTA to access museums, performances, and other cultural programming at a reduced or free cost.
The Andover Choral Society is a community chorus dedicated to bringing high-quality choral music to the Merrimack Valley community. Since 1929, membership in the chorus has been open to anyone with a love of great choral music and a desire to share that love with others. The chorus performs two concerts per year, with a repertoire that focuses on fine choral and choral-orchestral works from the Baroque era to the 21st century.
