Let us turn our thoughts today to Martin Luther King

There is hardly a thing more fulfilling than witnessing your child share a passion of yours. Soon after she was born, 12 years ago, Sofia was carried by her mom and me in a carseat to weekly rehearsals of the Metropolitan Washington Bahá’í Chorale in the Washington DC Baha’i Center. I am not sure if it was the regular listening of the chorale practice or me singing to her “Blessed Is The Spot” every night while putting her to bed but somehow Sofia ended up being passionate about singing (and drumming on the kitchen table the same way I was driving my own mom nuts…).

Last year, Sofia and I shared stage at a couple of the performances of the Washington Metropolitan Baha’i Chorale which confirmed her joy of singing she had been experiencing at school choirs but also gave her an additional perspective of joining a group of singers diverse not only racially but also in age.

Chorale Diversity

I am delighted beyond words that this year Sofia and I will be singing together not only at the three performances of the Washington Metropolitan Baha’i Chorale commemorating the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. but also later in May, at the 10th Bahá’í Chorale Festival in Wilmette, Illinois!

I hope you can join us, support us, and share the joy of music uniting hearts one spiritual song at a time!

Three performances with Metropolitan Washington Bahá’í Chorale honoring Martin Luther King Jr.

January 15, 2016

Time: 7:30pm

Location: Third Baptist Church
917 Princess St.
Alexandria, VA, 22314

The City of Alexandria will honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in a community program. The program, Our World, His Dream! Make it Happen!, presented by the Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Planning Committee, will include welcome remarks by City of Alexandria Mayor Allison Silberberg, a keynote address by former Washington, D.C. Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly, and music by the Metropolitan Washington Baha’i’ Chorale.

Saturday, January 16, 2016

Time: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Location: Kay Theater, The Clarice Performing Arts Center
University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
University Blvd and Stadium Drive

The City of College Park 25th Annual Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr

The Time is Always Right…to do what is right
Keynote Address: Maryland Delegate Talmadge Branch, 45th District
Mistress of Ceremonies: Tracee Wilkins, WNBC4-Washington
Musical, dance and literary reflections
Call 240-487-3573 for additional information
Parking is Free in Lots 1b & Z
Stadium Drive Garage Parking is available at $3 per hour

Sunday, January 17, 2016

Time: Doors open at 3:45pm, concert starts at 4:30pm

Ventures in Community (VIC) chorale festival in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday
Location: Good Shepherd Catholic Church
8710 Mt. Vernon Memorial Hwy, Alexandria, 22309
Free Admission

You can read more about the Washington Metropolitan Baha’i Chorale on its newly launched website http://bahaichorale.org for which Sofia’s younger sister, Juliet, has designed a logo!

Until then, enjoy this unedited video of the chorale rehearsing for the first time James Taylor’s “Shed A Little Light” brightened by a powerful, passionate solo by David North of ‘Mosaic Harmony’!

“Let us turn our thoughts today to Martin Luther King
and recognize that there are ties between us, all men and women living on the Earth.
Ties of hope and love, sister and brotherhood, that we are bound together
in our desire to see the world become a place in which our children can grow free and strong.
We are bound together by the task that stands before us and the road that lies ahead.”
~ James Taylor, “Shed A Little Light”