A Musical Tribute to Martin Luther King

The Reston Community Center was filled with music on Saturday night as the   Reston Community Orchestra and The Heritage Signature Chorale celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The orchestra and chorale, under the baton of  RCO’s Maestro Dingwall Fleary, set the tone for the evening, leading the audience in Lift Every Voice and Sing, followed by Petite Suite de Concert and the second movement of Dvorak’s 9th Symphony.  

In keeping with RCO’s tradition of bringing new music to their audience and championing young composers, they debuted Eric Lacy’s A Dream of Conscience: A Tribute to MLK.    Lacy, a Maryland native, took his inspiration from the speeches of King to craft this piece, specifically written for the RCO and the tribute concert.

The Orchestra finished the first half with selections from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, and a medley of songs by Duke Ellington which brought the audience to their feet.

After a stirring performance by Beverly Cosham, Reston’s favorite song stylist and community leader , The Heritage Signature Chorale took the stage.  Under the leadership of Music Director Stanley J. Thurston, the group sang several traditional African American spirituals, and a musical setting of Langston Hughes’ poem A Negro Speaks of Rivers, concluding with We Shall Overcome (Someday), accompanied by the orchestra.

This was the Reston Community Orchestra’s second standing-room only  concert of the season, themed Music From Within, highlighting the musical talent within the orchestra.  RCO’s next concert will be  Sunday, March 25 at 4 4 p.m.

This concert, titled Mostly Baroque, features several RCO musicians, including principal violinist Fred Rupert, principal cellist Kurt Usowski, and principal flute Stephanie Fouse.  

The concert will be held at the Reston Community Center, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston.  Admission is free.  For more information, call (571) 449-7095, or visit restoncommunityorchestra.org.