The Akron Symphony Orchestra’s biggest event of the year is its Gospel Meets Symphony concert, which is also its biggest community engagement initiative, both onstage and off. The annual event features a chorus of nearly 200 voices from more than 70 area churches, dubbed the Gospel Meets Symphony Choir joining the orchestra and music director Christopher Wilkins for an evening of inspirational music.
This year’s concert, which took place in early February, saw Akron pastor, educator, keyboard player and tenor Jonathon Turner, who has worked with the concert for a decade, serving as choirmaster for the first time, taking over from longtime choirmaster Jennifer Mekel Jones.
Turner has responded to the cries for justice in the face of racially directed violence sweeping out nation with a new song he’s composed called “My Black Is Beautiful.” He’s made a recording of the piece with members of the Gospel Meets Symphony Choir and Akron Symphony Orchestra’s principal cello Erica Snowden-Rodriguez.
The Akron Symphony has shared a video of the song, recorded June 3, 2020 at Akron’s First United Methodist Church (with social distancing!), saying, “We share the outrage over the many injustices that continue to harm our African-American citizens, and other marginalized minority communities. And we condemn the veiled and overt racism that plagues our nation. Music has always played an important role in times of pain, protest, grieving and celebration. It can bring comfort and uplift. And it has the unique power to create togetherness throughout a community. We are committed to finding new ways to give voice to all communities and fully support Jonathon’s important message to remind everyone that we can and must be better as a nation.”
Go here to listen.
University of Akron, Akron, OH 44304