EarRelevant Staff | 16 JAN 2025
ATLANTA, Geprgia— The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) and Ebenezer Baptist Church are bringing a new iteration of their King Celebration concert to a nationwide audience starting January 20, 2025, honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This year’s performance, recorded on January 4 at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, marks a poignant collaboration between the ASO and the church’s musicians.
Hosted by radio personality Lois Reitzes of WABE, the concert will be available in multiple media formats, including a 1-hour audio program of concert highlights that will first air on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (this Monday, January 20) on Atlanta’s WABE 90.1 FM and streamed on GPB Classical at 8p.m.; then broadcast statewide outside of Atlanta on the Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) radio network at 10 p.m.).
A 1-hour video version will be streamed on GPB.org on Monday at 3 p.m., with a video of the full concert broadcast on GPB terrestrial TV at a later date. Video streaming will also be available on demand at ASO.org, and EbenezerATL.org. National distribution to public broadcasters of the 1-hour radio version is through American Public Media. The programs will be available for listening or viewing through the end of February in recognition of Black History Month.
This year’s program celebrates the works of Black composers and the intersection of classical, gospel, and jazz traditions. Performances include pieces by Atlanta composers Carlos Simon (“I. Lively” from AMEN!)and Joel Thompson (An Act of Resistance), gospel selections by Thomas A. Dorsey and Kurt Carr, selections from The Montgomery Variations by Margaret Bonds, and Florence Price’s Adoration for Solo Violin and Orchestra performed by violinist Waverly Alexander of the ASO’s Talent Development Program. Grammy-winning jazz vocalist Gregory Porter contributes with a rendition of his evocative composition “1960 What?”
Composer Carlos Simon (credit: Kendall Bessent)
“As a Morehouse graduate and glee club member, I remember performing every year for the MLK Concert with the Spelman College Glee Club and the Wendell P. Whalum Chorale,” Simon reflected. “It was special to me because it gave me the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Civil Rights era and how important it was for the country. From this concert, I learned that music has the power to connect us all.”
The Honorable Reverend Dr. Raphael Warnock welcomed the audience at the start of the live concert and the Rev. Dr. Bernice King, the youngest child of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, spoke during the second half.
Jonathan Taylor Rush conducted the ASO in the program, which also featured the combined choruses of the ASO and Ebenezer Baptist Church. Other featured artists included Dr. Patrice E. Turner, Ebenezer’s Director of Worship and Arts, tenor Timothy Miller, and gospel vocalist Tamika Patton, and pianist Daniel Moore II.
The King Celebration has roots in Atlanta’s musical history, dating back to its inception at Morehouse College in 1992. Over the decades, it has featured luminaries like Jessye Norman and Yo-Yo Ma, reinforcing Atlanta’s role as a cultural hub for honoring Dr. King’s legacy. This year’s return to Ebenezer Baptist Church—where Dr. King served as co-pastor—underscores the event’s deep connection to the community and its artistic heritage.
The 2025 King Celebration is supported by the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, with media partnerships from WABE and Georgia Public Broadcasting ensuring wide accessibility. For more information and details on the viewing options, visit aso.org and ebenezeratl.org. ■
The “King Celebration” concert at Ebenezer Baptist Church, January 4, 2025, performed and recorded before an invited live audience. (credit: Rand Lines)
EXTERNAL LINKS:
- Ebenezer Baptist Church: ebenezeratl.org
- Atlanta Symphony Orchestra: aso.org
- WABE: wabe.org
- Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB): gpb.org
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