We Shall Overcome: A Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

We Shall Overcome: A Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dominican University presents “We Shall Overcome: A Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” on Saturday, February 15 at 7:30 p.m. Featuring multi-genre musician Damien Sneed, the program will include music from across African American traditions, interwoven with spoken word from Dr. King’s recorded speeches. Tickets start at $30.

“We Shall Overcome” features music that electrified generations of civil rights activists, including traditional gospel, classical, jazz, Broadway and spirituals, with selections made famous by Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Duke Ellington and Nina Simone. The program is enhanced by the inspiring words of Dr. King.

Sneed, a vocalist, keyboardist, arranger, composer, conductor and dancer, has worked with legends including Diana Ross, Wynton Marsalis, Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder. He is the 2014 recipient of the prestigious Sphinx Medal of Excellence, presented annually to emerging Black and Latinx leaders in classical music. He premiered last year his new opera “We Shall Overcome—Our Journey: 400 Years from Africa to Jamestown” at Carnegie Hall and has been commissioned by the Houston Grand Opera to create a chamber opera based on the life of Marian Anderson.  He is a member of the faculty of the Manhattan School of Music.

Joining the program will be singers with Harmony, Hope and Healing (HHH), a nonprofit choral organization that supports individuals as they heal from trauma associated with homelessness, incarceration, addiction and depression. HHH provides on-site music classes in Chicago shelters, residential programs, drug treatment centers and Cook County Jail to help individuals tap into the restorative power of music.

Concessions for this program will be provided by Music and Potlucks, a west suburban program presenting community gatherings of music and food with free will offerings of monetary donations, food, toiletries and gift cards to support local agencies working to end hunger and homelessness. Proceeds will benefit Beyond Hunger, a nonprofit organization providing food and resources to vulnerable residents in the west suburbs.

To purchase tickets or for more information visit https://events.dom.edu/we-shall-overcome or call Dominican University’s Box Office at 708-488-5000.