Wednesday, February 7, 2024
The American Spiritual Ensemble: Live from SJC
“Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us”
St. John’s Episcopal Church presents The American Spiritual Ensemble live in concert at 3pm on Sunday, April 7, 2024.
On Sunday, April 7 at 3:00pm, St. John’s Concerts On The Hill Series will play proud host to the world-renowned choir, The American Spiritual Ensemble for an historic Portsmouth premiere concert. The American Spiritual Ensemble (ASE), whose mission is to preserve and continue the tradition of storytelling through the performance and preservation of the American Negro Spiritual, was founded in 1995 by Dr. Everett McCorvey who remains Artistic Director and Conductor of the choir.
In the spring of 2023, St. John’s was invited to be part of a team of cultural organizations and arts difference-makers in our region to help bring ASE to New England for a spring tour. When we were brought into this conversation, ASE had commitments from two other venues, but needed a third, and we felt strongly that our community could raise enough funds to afford the considerable artists’ fee. We are still hard at work in this way, and if you feel moved to learn more about how you can help, please email Olin Johannessen, our point person on this special project.
“Performing these spirituals serves as a tribute to the many lives lost or destroyed during slavery in the United States; a horrible time for human kind. These songs, a combination of African, American, and European traditions, create a new type of melody in which a sense of identification was created within the enslaved community. These songs, beloved all around the world, now stand as a testament of the strength found through faith during times of hardship as well as a unifying force among all peoples.” (source: www.americanspiritualensemble.com/about-ase)
We have been given an opportunity to bring this light into our community though the artistry and story telling of this world-class choir whose mission of preserving and performing American Negro Spirituals fills a widening deficiency in the truth-telling of our nation’s complicated history through these sung narratives.
This event will also feature in-person presence from thought leaders and organizations within our community who are working tirelessly to spread awareness and make a difference, and attendees will have an opportunity to visit with them in our own Roberts Hall before and after the performance to learn more about the important work being done right here in the Seacoast, and learn how they can help support the work.
Please visit our website to learn more about The American Spiritual Ensemble and plan your visit to see and hear them Live In Concert for the first time in the beautiful and warm acoustic space of our historic sanctuary at St. John's.
*Header text from "Lift Every Voice and Sing," by James Weldon Johnson