Classical MPR Invites the Community to Unite in Song this Thursday

The community is invited to an evening of song and reflection after recent violence in the Twin Cities. "A Bridge of Song," hosted by Classical Minnesota Public Radio, will take place at Westminster Presbyterian Church on Thursday, July 14, at 7:30 p.m.

Tesfa Wondemagegnehu, Classical MPR manager of choral initiatives, and G. Phillip Shoultz III, associate conductor of VocalEssence, will lead local choirs in a program featuring special guests Fred Steele, JD Steele and Dessa. The event will last approximately one hour and consist largely of music, interspersed with brief inspirational and meditative readings. Westminster Presbyterian Church is located in downtown Minneapolis at 1200 South Marquette Avenue.

A similar community sing is scheduled for the same time in Dallas. These two cities — both of which experienced tragedy in the last week — are at near-opposite ends of I-35, one of the nation's great interstate highways stretching north-south nearly the length of America. At one moment in the event, the two crowds in Texas and Minnesota will sing the same piece of music at the same time together.

"Our goal is to try for at least a few minutes to center our community, with music at the heart of it," said Brian Newhouse, Managing Director of Classical MPR. "We believe that there's real power in the act of singing together."

The event will be live-streamed on Classical MPR's Facebook page. Participants are encouraged to use the hashtag #BridgeofSong.

Although everyone is welcome to sing at A Bridge of Song, if you're interested in joining the nucleus choir for the event, it will be rehearsing for two hours, starting at 5 p.m. Enter through the door at 12th and Marquette at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Light refreshments will be provided between the rehearsal and the event.

Listeners can tune in to Classical MPR to hear a companion block of programming with music selections reflecting hope and unity.

Program

• The Star-Spangled Banner

• Greg Gilpin: Why We Sing sung with choirs in Dallas

• Johannes Brahms: How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place

• Mark Miller: Draw the Circle Wide

• Arr. Fred Steele: Lily in the Valley soloists J.D. Steele and Fred Steele

• Dessa and Andy Thompson: The Good Fight soloist Dessa

• Abbie Betinis: Be Like the Bird

• Traditional: Freedom is Coming

• Richard Smallwood, arr. Doreen Rao: Total Praise

• Hezekiah Walker, arr. Sanford Moore: I Need You to Survive

• Jake Runestad: We Can Mend the Sky

• Jill Jackson Miller and Sy Miller, arr. Jay Althouse: Let There Be Peace on Earth

• Hymn: Lift Every Voice and Sing

Readings will occur throughout.

Select Videos from the Event