Classical Roots, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s annual concert celebrating the African American musical experience, will take place this year on March 8 at Music Hall in Cincinnati. The event will spotlight women composers, arrangers, and musicians, past and present. Performing with the orchestra will be vocalist Lisa Fischer (in photo), back-up singer for the Rolling Stones and Tina Turner who appeared in the 2013 documentary 20 Feet from Stardom. John Morris Russell will lead the orchestra and 150-member Classical Roots Community Mass Choir, comprising singers from 50 churches in the Cincinnati metro area, led by William Henry Caldwell, the choir’s resident conductor. Composers, arrangers, and musicians featured during the concert will include Margaret Bonds, Reena Esmail, Carole King, Jessie Montgomery, Sonia Morales-Matos, Rosephanye Powell, Florence Price, Louise Shropshire, Mamie Smith, and Mary Watkins.
Posted March 7, 2019
