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World Premiere: "A Journey to Freedom, Honor and Glory"

Fairfax County Office of Public Affairs
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 551
Fairfax, VA 22035-0065
703-324-3187, TTY 703-324-2935, FAX 703-324-2010

Feb. 19, 2004

 

World Premiere: "A Journey to Freedom, Honor and Glory"

The Reston Chorale presents the world premiere of "A Journey to Freedom, Honor and Glory" -- the Jonathan Daniels Story -- on Friday, March 19, at 8 p.m. in Schlesinger Concert Hall on the campus of Northern Virginia Community College, 3001 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria.

This inspiring event will convey the story of Jonathan Myrick Daniels, civil rights activist and martyr, through an original work composed of contemporary classical, gospel, jazz, blues and rock styles, and accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra. The performance will be a multimedia experience with documentary clips, photographs and original narration. "A Journey to Freedom, Honor and Glory" is a newly commissioned choral/orchestral cantata by Julius Williams, professor of Composition at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass. The performance will feature guest narrator Del Walters, Patricia Miller, mezzo-soprano, and Harv Wileman, tenor, and will be conducted by Frederick Wygal, artistic director.

The Reston Chorale's mission for this event is to honor, celebrate and educate people on the life of Jonathan Myrick Daniels and inspire strong support of multiculturalism. The chorale first heard the story of Daniels through Wygal and his wife and long-standing chorale member, Ellen Wygal. The power of Daniels' story inspired The Reston Chorale to commission "A Journey to Freedom, Honor and Glory" through a gift from chorale members John and Sue Adney.

Jonathan Daniels was a Virginia Military Institute valedictorian, Episcopalian seminarian, civil rights activist and martyr. He was killed in Alabama on Aug. 20, 1965, at the age of 26, while saving the life of a teenage girl, Ruby Sales. His story was documented in 2000 in an hour-long video, "Here Am I, Send Me," narrated by Sam Waterston. Daniels joins Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as the only two Americans recognized in the chapel of modern martyrs in Canterbury Cathedral, England.

Tickets are available via mail order or at Schlesinger Concert Hall the night of the performance. For additional information, contact the chorale via e-mail at restonchorale@restonchorale.org, by telephone at 703-834-0079, TTY 711 or visit their Web site www.restonchorale.org.

 

FAIRFAX COUNTY IS COMMITTED TO A POLICY OF NONDISCRIMINATION IN ALL COUNTY PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES AND WILL PROVIDE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS UPON REQUEST. TO REQUEST SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS, CALL 703-324-3187, TTY 703-324-2935. PLEASE ALLOW FIVE WORKING DAYS IN ADVANCE OF EVENTS IN ORDER TO MAKE THE NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS.