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KSO, MLK Commemorative Commission to celebrate legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

January 12, 2022

The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, in collaboration with the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission, will present “Night with The Arts: A Concert in Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr,” to honor the legacy of the civil rights icon.

The concert, which is free and open to the public, will be held Sunday, Jan. 16, at 6 p.m. at the Tennessee Theatre, and tickets are not needed. The performance will be presented with support from Knox County Commissioners Terry Hill and Dr. Dasha Lundy.

“It is a joy and an honor for the KSO to perform as part of our community’s annual commemoration of Dr. King’s heroic legacy, and we are particularly grateful to celebrate Knoxville’s Commemorative Commission with music in the organization’s 40th anniversary year,” KSO Music Director Aram Demirjian said.

Demirjian will lead the Symphony in an evening of powerful music written by influential Black composers, including Scott Joplin, Florence Price and Valerie Coleman. The MLK Celebration Choir, directed by Preston Johnson, will join the KSO to perform “We Shall Overcome,” “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and “Praise.”

For more information, visit knoxvillesymphony.com.

About the MLK Commemorative Commission
Since 1982, the MLK Commission has been organizing a special celebration each year for the Knoxville area to commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  The week-long celebration focuses on providing education and leadership training for adults and youth and promotes reconciliation through peaceful conflict resolution. Part of the celebration also includes stories of racial struggles with emphasis on non-violence, equality, and love.

About the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra
Led by Music Director Aram Demirjian, the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra consists of 80 professional musicians and performs 300 programs throughout the region each season, reaching audiences of more than 200,000 people. The KSO performs in traditional venues such as the Tennessee Theatre, Bijou Theatre and Civic Auditorium, as well as non-traditional places like hospitals, schools, city parks and churches. For more information regarding the KSO, please visit knoxvillesymphony.com or call 865-291-3310.