Provided by Hylton Performing Arts Center
“One of America’s most celebrated gospel groups” (NPR) and 2022 National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellowship recipients, The Legendary Ingramettes will perform their family favorites sprinkled with uplifting Christmas music at the Hylton Performing Arts Center on Dec. 3. The performance includes a special guest appearance by local students in the Manassas Park High School Chamber Singers. As a Hylton Center Artist-in-Residence, The Legendary Ingramettes will also work with the community through classes and workshops surrounding their Hylton Center performance.
Richmond’s “first family of gospel” was formed six decades ago by evangelist “Mama” Maggie Ingram, who found inspiration in Black gospel male quartets of the 1940s and 50s. Ingram broke new ground creating her female-driven quartet. With the energized spirit of a Sunday morning service, the ensemble is now led by Ingram’s daughter Reverend Almeta Ingram-Miller, who alongside vocalists Cheryl Maroney Yancey, and Carrie Jackson, and a house-rocking rhythm section, have built upon the musical legacy of the group’s founder, taking the music of the Legendary Ingramettes to new heights. The Legendary Ingramettes inspire audiences into a gospel fervor whether performing in concert halls or at national festivals around the country.
Reverend Almeta Ingram-Miller expands upon the group’s engagement as an Artist-in-Residence at the Hylton Center: “The Legendary Ingramettes are thrilled to be getting to know the Mason community and to share our story and music. We are a family band and hope that by the end of this residency, our family has expanded tenfold to include the students and community that we will be able to meet, engage, and sometimes even sing with!”
Launched during the 2019–2020 season through George Mason University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA), the Artist-in-Residence program connects artists appearing at the Hylton Center and sister-venue the Center for the Arts and the with on- and off-campus communities. Artist-in-Residence classes and workshops surrounding the The Legendary Ingramettes Dec. 3 Hylton Center performance are detailed below.
Mason Arts Management Student Discussion
Reverend Almeta Ingram-Miller will join Associate Director at the Center for Cultural Vibrancy, Josh Kohn, for an evening with Mason Arts Management students. The conversation will focus on the strategy to make the jump to larger stages, the challenges of presenting spiritual music to secular audiences, the challenges the group has endured over its long and important history, and what the future holds for one of America’s great gospel powerhouse bands.
Potomac Place Lunchtime Performance
Reverend Almeta Ingram-Miller, Cheryl Maroney Yancey, Carrie Jackson, and keyboardist Patrick Newby, joined by Center for Cultural Vibrancy founder and Executive Director Jon Lohman, will perform a lunchtime concert for residents of senior living care facility Potomac Place in Woodbridge.
Mason Folklore Classroom Visit
Reverend Almeta Ingram-Miller, Cheryl Maroney Yancey, Carrie Jackson, and keyboardist Patrick Newby, joined by Center for Cultural Vibrancy founder and Executive Director Jon Lohman, will visit George Mason University’s “Public Folklore” course on Mason’s Fairfax campus, taught by Mason Folklore Program Director Prof. Lisa Gilman.
Manassas Park High School Chamber Singers Workshop
Reverend Almeta Ingram-Miller, Cheryl Maroney Yancey, Carrie Jackson, and keyboardist Patrick Newby will visit the Manassas Park High School Chamber Singers for a special workshop in preparation for the performance on Dec. 3.
Lifelong Learning Institute Lecture Demonstration
The Legendary Ingramettes will be joined by Center for Cultural Vibrancy founder and Executive Director Jon Lohman for a lecture and demonstration with George Mason University’s Lifelong Learning Institute at the Hylton Center. The event will discuss the important role of Black gospel music in the attainment of civil rights in the American south.
Artist-Activist Speaker Series, an initiative of CVPA’s ARCAM
Reverend Almeta Ingram-Miller will join moderator Dewberry School of Music Director of Concert Band and professor William Lake, Jr. for an event as part of The Artist-Activist Speaker Series, which is an initiative of ARCAM (Anti-Racist Collaborative Arts at Mason).
Mason School of Integrative Studies Black Feminist Thought Classroom Visit
Rev. Almeta Ingram-Miller will visit Mason School of Integrative Studies’ “Black Feminist Thought” course, taught by Prof. Wendi Manuel-Scott.
Hylton Center performance information:
Artist-in-ResidenceThe Legendary IngramettesSunday, Dec. 3 at 2 p.m.$48, $41, $29; half-price for youth through Grade 12 This engagement of The Legendary Ingramettes is made possible in part through the Mid Atlantic Tours program of Mid Atlantic Arts with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.