The 2005 Martin Luther King Jr. holiday observance brought UM-St. Louis students and faculty together to celebrate the life of a man who changed the world. Monday's program was a fitting tribute to someone who worked tirelessly for the equality of all people.
The Master of Ceremonies for the event was KTIV Fox 2 Anchor and Reporter Rob Desir and featured special performances by the UM-St. Louis Dance Repertory, the Cameron Youth Chamber Orchestra and the String Orchestra from the Webster University Community Music School.
After a powerful invocation by the Director of the Catholic Newman Center, Father Bill Kempf, Tiara Rooks, senior, music took the stage with Professor Robert Ray to perform two fitting selections. First was "Lift Every Voice and Sing," which is known as the Negro National Anthem and was written by James Weldon Johnson in 1899 with his brother, composer John R. Johnson. Next, Rooks sang "My Country 'Tis of Thee." The audience stood during the performance of both numbers.
A brief welcome from UM-St. Louis Chancellor Thomas George was followed by the first performance of the Cameron Youth Chamber Orchestra. The MLK essay contest winners were announced next and first place winner Julia Gant read her essay to the audience.
The Cameron Youth Chamber Orchestra performed another musical tribute to King. Under the direction of Donnie Jones, the orchestra performed "Amazing Grace" along with the String Orchestra from the Community Music School of Webster University. Mary Lou Gotman directed the combined orchestras.
The mission of the Cameron Youth Chamber Orchestra is to train and develop African American youth in the art of classical music performance and to foster an appreciation for classical music within the African American community. Founded in 1993 by the late Kem Williams, teens between the ages of 13 and 18 from various St. Louis schools participate. Donnie Jones is currently serving as the interim director of the orchestra.
A moving and inspirational speech from keynote speaker Susan L. Taylor, editorial director of Essence magazine was followed by a performance of the UM-St. Louis Dance Repertory.
The UM-St. Louis Dance Repertory performed two dances. The first was "The Crossing" in which several dancers dressed in flowing white depicted the spiritual transition from this world to the next. The second piece, "Free at Last" mirrored the passion and hope of those, like King, who struggled and continue to strive for the equality of all people. Both pieces were choreographed by Alicia Okouchi-Guy.
The UM-St. Louis Dance Repertory is open to all current UM-St. Louis students and alumni. Auditions are held each semester. For more information about the Cameron Youth Chamber Orchestra visit www.cameron.8m.net.
The 2005 Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Observance was sponsored by the Office of Equal Opportunity, UM-St. Louis African American Alumni Chapter, English Department, Office of Multicultural Relations, Office of Student Life, Student Government Association and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.
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