On Sunday, January 14, 2025 at 3 p.m., the University of Minnesota will present the 44th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Concert, themed “Light Transforming Darkness,” at Ted Mann Concert Hall at 2128 S 4th St., Minneapolis, MN, 55455. This event is free and open to the public — tickets are not required. For those unable to attend in person, the concert will also be live-streamed. The link will be available on the event page on the day of the event.
The program, hosted and curated by U of M alumnus G. Phillip Shoultz, III of VocalEssence, weaves the words of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with reflections and musical performances. Featured performers include Kamoinge Strings of Walker West Music Academy, an ensemble of talented students in grades 7-12; Jornae Dance Collective, led by U of M alum Suzette Jornae Gilreath; VocalEssence Singers Of This Age; youth speakers mentored by Joe Davis Poetry; and more.
The annual concert, sponsored by the University of Minnesota Office for Equity and Diversity and the School of Music, honors Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Dr. Reginald Buckner, founder of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Concert.
To access accommodations, contact the Office for Equity and Diversity at [email protected]. Visit z.umn.edu/mlk25 for more information about the program and live stream information.
Concert History
When the University of Minnesota’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Concert began more than 40 years ago, it was the only tribute of its kind in Minnesota. The late Reginald Buckner, School of Music professor and an accomplished performer and composer, founded the concert and began the tradition of celebrating the life and accomplishments of Dr. King through the performing arts. After Professor Buckner’s death in 1989, the University continued to honor Buckner’s memory and artistic genius by carrying on the inspiring legacy of this annual program. The Martin Luther King Jr. celebration is now a joint program of the University of Minnesota’s Office for Equity and Diversity and the School of Music.
About the Artists
Joe Davis is an award-winning spoken word artist and bestselling author who uses poetry to power possibility. He is the founder and director of Finding Your Freedom Practice, teaching holistic health and wellness practices through spoken word, writing, music, theater and dance. Joe holds a Master of Arts degree in theology of the arts and heads a multimedia production company, a soul-funk band and a racial justice education program. His work has been featured on BET, CNN and VH1. Based in Minneapolis, he tours internationally to join schools, faith spaces, nonprofits and businesses to practice envisioning and embodying a world of collective liberation and human flourishing. Learn more about Joe Davis.
Kamoinge Strings of Walker West Music Academy is composed of students in grades 7-12. This ensemble has performed on prestigious stages such as the Ordway and Orchestra Hall, with members participating in various youth symphonies and chamber music schools. Learn more about Walker West Music Academy.
Suzette Jornae Gilreath is a performing artist, choreographer and student. Born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jornae is a virtuosic, versatile and curious mover. She began her dance training at Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists, and TU Dance at the age of 16. She is classically trained in ballet, modern and African dance, with experience in street-style hip-hop and heels. As an alumna of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities dance program, she has been taught under the instruction of Carl Flink, Toni Pierce-Sands, Ananya ChatterJea and Erin Thompson. Through her dance training, she has obtained a greater understanding of the relationship dance has with the world, globally and internationally. Over the past five years, Jornae has gained professional dance experience by training and performing with Twin Cities-based companies Contempo Physical Dance and STRONGmovement. She has also performed works by Kenna Cottman, Sidra Bell, Gregory Maqoma, Leslie Parker and Robert Moses. Her mission is to transform, inform and inspire. Learn more about Jornae Dance Collective.
G. Phillip Shoultz, III, enjoys a multifaceted career as a conductor, educator, singer, speaker, artist, consultant and pastoral musician. Shoultz is the associate artistic director of VocalEssence, where he shares the podium with founding artistic director and mentor Philip Brunelle. His visionary leadership is most visible as the founding conductor of the VocalEssence Singers of This Age and through his engaging Take 5 with GPS daily livestream and series of instructional videos. He also leads education programs including WITNESS, ¡Cantaré! and the Carnegie Hall Lullaby Project.
In addition to his work with VocalEssence, Shoultz serves as the director of music, worship and the arts for Good Samaritan United Methodist Church and as cantor for music, worship and the arts at Westwood Lutheran Church. He frequently appears throughout the U.S. as a guest clinician, adjudicator and consultant. Shoultz is also the principal host for Young People’s Concerts with the Minnesota Orchestra.
A passionate advocate for fostering community and inspiring action among people of all ages and abilities, Shoultz’s accolades include winning the 2015 American Choral Directors Association Graduate Student Conducting Competition. He has appeared as a conducting fellow with the Oregon Bach Festival, Chorus America, Choral Music Experience Institute and other esteemed programs. Shoultz completed his doctoral studies in conducting at the University of Minnesota Doctor of Musical Arts program. Learn more about G. Phillip Shoultz, III.
VocalEssence Singers Of This Age (VESOTA) is a community of Twin Cities teenagers engaged in expanding what it means to be a choir and encouraging a wider circle of participation in the art form. Under the visionary leadership of G. Phillip Shoultz, III, the singers present music ranging from classical to hip-hop. They use creativity and collaboration to build an accepting community, equipped with the skills to lead social change in our society. Learn more about VESOTA.