Rhythm of the Roots

Concerts @ First and Challenge the Stats present

Rhythm of the Roots

Rhythm of the Roots Concert Virtual Concert co-presented by Challenge the Stats in residence at First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta

April 10th, 2021, 8:00 P.M. Navajo Vocable for Piano, No. 9 by Connor Chee Verena Anders, Piano A Canon of Peace by Maurice Draughn Angelica Hairston, Harp; Jens Korndörfer, Organ Portraits of Langston by Valerie Coleman Harlem Nights Danse Africaine Tara Byrdsong, Flute; Ricky Saucedo, Clarinet; Verena Anders, Piano Niani Braxton, Narrator Listen to the Cry of Your Fellow Man by Gus Sebring and Charles Overton* Angelica Hairston, Harp; Marie Douglas, Horn Move It by Carlos Simon Tara Byrdsong, Flute A Change is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke, arranged by Joel Thompson* CTS String Quartet Jessica Stinson, violin; Tramaine Jones, violin; Shadwa Mussad, viola; Alana Bennett, cello

Latin Steps from Suite Latina by Juan Ramirez CTS String Quartet *Southeastern Premiere

Concert Sponsor First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta

To support the work of Challenge the Stats or Concerts at First, please visit:

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About the Artists Challenge the Stats Founder: Harpist Angelica Hairston is known for her fiery performances and her passion for social change. Angelica launched Challenge the Stats (CTS) in 2016 with a desire to advocate for artists of color and create platforms that empower and uplift marginalized voices through the performing arts. In addition to her work with CTS, Angelica serves as the Artistic Director of the Urban Youth Harp Ensemble in Atlanta, GA. She holds a Master of Music Industry Leadership from Northeastern University (Boston) and a Bachelor of Music from The Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto, Ontario). Angelica has performed with the Atlanta Symphony, Nashville Symphony, Montgomery Symphony and the Daytona Solisti Orchestras and was recently selected as a 2021 recipient of Atlanta Magazine’s Women Making a Mark Award for her impact on the Atlanta community.

VERENA ANDERS Verena Lucía Anders is a LatinX pianist, conductor, composer, vocalist and music educator. Verena is also the founder of Symphonic Revolution, a chamber orchestra which advocates for diversity and inclusion. Verena is the co-founder of Conductors for Change.

Verena completed her Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance at the University of Maryland and her Master’s Degree in Conducting in 2010 from the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. She currently lives with her husband, Will Buthod, in Atlanta, Georgia.

ALANA BENNETT Cellist Alana Bennett of Atlanta is a graduate of New York University and Indiana University. She has performed at Carnegie Hall with the acclaimed New York String Orchestra. Alana serves as principal cellist of the Dekalb Symphony Orchestra and the cellist for the Laridae Quintet, which prioritizes musical education in underserved communities. She has also played with LaGrange Symphony, Columbus Symphony Orchestra, and Symphony Orchestra Augusta. Alana is a faculty member at Georgia State’s Perimeter College and on the faculty at The School of Fine Arts at First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta.

About the Artists NIANI BRAXTON Niani Braxton is a powerful young poet. She is currently a sophomore at Cobb County Center for Excellence in the Performing Arts. Niani has enjoyed writing from a young age and has always admired the work of Maya Angelou. She loves acting and singing. Niani hopes to be a successful actress one day and use her platform to bring about social change and awareness.

TARA BYRDSONG Acclaimed Flutist and Educator Tara Byrdsong holds a Master of Music in flute performance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a Bachelor of Music from Converse College in Spartanburg, S.C. Tara is an alum of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s Talent Development Program, Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, and the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony.

Tara has performed as a solo flutist and ensemble artist throughout the United States, Prague, Vienna and England. She is currently Band Director at Campbell Middle School in Smyrna.

TRAMAINE JONES Tramaine Jones began learning the violin at the age of nine and has not put down her instrument since. She is a graduate of the Tri-Cities High School Performing Arts Program and went on to receive a highly competitive scholarship to attend Northwestern University.

While at NU, she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Violin Performance and Master’s Degree in Music Education. Tramaine is a highly-regarded violinist in the Atlanta area and performs regularly with the Symphony Orchestra of Augusta, Tuscaloosa Symphony, and the Harlem Festival Orchestra.

JENS KORNDÖRFER Dr. Jens Korndörfer is Director of Worship and the Arts and Organist at First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta and directs the organ program at Georgia State University. He graduated with top-honors from the CNSM in Paris, McGill University in Montreal, and the Oberlin Conservatory, was organist in residence at the Concert Hall Kitara in Sapporo (Japan) in 2005/06, and maintains a busy concert schedule on three continents. www.jenskorndoerfer.com MICHAEL MORRIS Michael Morris, Jr. is a Professional Concert Dancer who began his dance training at the Martha Ellen Stilwell High School for the Arts. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Classical Ballet from the Boston Conservatory. After graduation, he performed on the Celebrity Cruise Line, touring Europe, Asia, The Caribbean and The Middle East. Michael has performed in New York City’s “Broadway Bares: Take Off”, American Ballet Theatre’s Metropolitan Opera House Spring Season, and has spent countless summers training under full scholarships with American Ballet Theatre, Miami City Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Atlanta Ballet and The Georgia Youth Ballet.

About the Artists SHADWA MUSSAD Egyptian-American violinist/violist Shadwa Mussad has had a lifelong passion for enriching people’s lives through music. Through her involvement with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, a group which promotes dialogue between Arab and Israeli musicians, she has performed in celebrated venues such as Carnegie Hall, Berlin Philharmonie, La Scala, Tchaikovsky Conservatory Hall and the Salzburg Festspielhaus. Locally, Shadwa plays with the Atlanta Ballet and Atlanta Pops, and is Director of Orchestras at Campbell High School. She holds a dual-Masters degree from the Ohio State University, a Graduate Performance Diploma from Longy School of Music of Bard College, and a Bachelors of Music Education from the University of Georgia.

MARIE DOUGLAS Marie Douglas is a hornist, educator, and composer, who currently serves as the Director of Bands and Music Technology at Tucker High School in Dekalb County, Georgia. Marie received her undergraduate degree in Music with a concentration in French Horn Performance from Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University. Marie holds graduate degrees in Internet Marketing from Full Sail University and Music Technology and Performance from Southern Utah University. Marie performs with the Cobb Wind Symphony, and is an adjunct professor of Music Theory and Music History at Southern Utah University. In addition, Marie serves as chief arranger for high school band programs across the southeastern United States.

RICKY SAUCEDO Ricky Saucedo studied clarinet and flute performance at Georgia State University with Dr. Kenneth Long, clarinet, and Paul Brittain, flute. As a solo Guest Artist, he has performed Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto and Weber’s Concerto No. 2 with the New Atlanta Philharmonic and with members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. In 2010, he studied in New York with Ayako Oshima and Charles Neidich, Clarinet Professors at The Juilliard School. After returning to his home state of Georgia, Ricky is acting as the Clarinet Teaching Artist for The Atlanta Music Project, at The School of Fine Arts at First Presbyterian and performs throughout the Southeast US. In the fall of 2019, he was awarded The Music Performance Trust Fund grant to perform concerts in the Atlanta Public School system with his clarinet quintet, Laridae Quintet.

JESSICA STINSON Violinist Jessica Robinson Stinson has been hailed as a “thrilling and spectacular” performer with “remarkably mature musicianship”. Jessica has performed extensively throughout the United States and Europe. She received a Master’s in Violin Performance from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. A passionate advocate for music in her community, Jessica is an active pedagogue and coach and maintains her own private violin studio. Jessica performs regularly with the Atlanta Symphony and Ballet Orchestras and was appointed to the violin section of the Atlanta Opera Orchestra in 2018.

Concerts @ First Donors 2020/21 Season Orchestrator

Patron

Underwriter

Carillon Bell Choir in memory of Jack McGaughey

Debi and Fred Akers in memory of Helen and Scott Akers

Dan Benardot

Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Allvine Mrs. Elizabeth Case

Elizabeth Fogartie A.M. Haltiwanger in honor of Dr. Jens Korndörfer Margaret Howell

Mr. John Cooke

Mary and Dick Leslie Mr. and Mrs. Baxter Jones in memory of Margaret Belinda Massafra Bates Block Hays Mershon Angel Jean Russ Mr. and Mrs. Robert Candler Linda and Mason Stephenson Mr. and Mrs. Annika and Tim Eichenlaub Friend Mrs. Lillian Law Idara Bassey Mrs. Margaret Murphy Barbara Cook Anne C. Pritchett Jon Gunneman Ann and Eberhard Voit Mrs. Carol Hardenburg Gail and David Watson in memory of Cary and Carton and Cheryl Hughes Brooks Lide; Bill Minnich Benefactor

Jeffrey Jakubowski

Dr. Margaret Blackmon in honor or Daniel Bara and Jens Korndörfer

Pat Kidwell

Carol and James Dew

Stephen Nash

Mr. and Mrs. James Griffin

Stephen Nagler

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Hatch

Drs. Joseph Bishop and Stuart Noel

Seaborn Jones in honor of Martha Stringer and Giles Myers

Anne Pritchett

Ms. Susan Lowance Arthur and Mamie Mendez Mr. and Mrs. Spalding and Aimee Nix

Uwe Korndoerfer

Jeff Chilcutt Nancy Schultz Sandi Stine

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Russ Suzanne Shull Mr. and Mrs. Jack Stringer

To make a contribution to Concerts @ First please click the link to visit firstpresatl.org/GIVE

Concerts @ First presents 2020-2021 Dedication Concerts of First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta’s PEYTON CATER ROBINSON MEMORIAL STEINWAY CONCERT GRAND PIANO Friday, October 23, 2020 8:00 P.M. Atlanta Chamber Players 45th Season Opener World Premiere– David Garner’s Crow and Melt

Sunday, November 8, 2020 2:00 P.M. Chamber Music Showcase Thanksgiving concert featuring David Coucheron, Stuart Stephenson, Maria Valdes

Sunday, December 13, 2020 10:00 A.M. Christmas Concert Rejoice Greatly!

Friday, January 22, 2021 12:00 P.M. Bach’s Lunch Co-presented with the Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta Vega String Quartet

Sunday, February 21, 2021 2:00 P.M. Piano, Organ, Trombone, and Oboe Concert Julie Coucheron, piano - Jens Korndörfer, organ Elizabeth Koch Tiscione, oboe - Nathan Zgonc, trombone

Friday, March 26, 2021 12:00 P.M. Bach’s Lunch Co-presented with the Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta David Coucheron, violin; William Ransom, piano

Saturday, April 10, 2021 8:00 P.M. Challenge the Stats Rhythm of the Roots Mainstage Concert– Livestream ONLY Sunday, May 16, 2021 3:00 P.M. Atlanta Chamber Players Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue

Saturday, May 22, 2021 11:00 A.M. Atlanta Opera Studio Educational Tour Bi-lingual Barber of Seville