Chicago Jazz Philharmonic to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s Centennial at Millennium Park in partnership with the South African Consulate General Chicago.
Chicago Jazz Philharmonic continues remounts Mandela tribute, Hope In Action, ten years after its premiere in Millennium Park.
Chicago Jazz Philharmonic (“CJP”), under the direction of artistic director and co-founder Orbert Davis will present Hope In Action: Celebrating Nelson Mandela’s Centennial in partnership with the South African Consulate General of Chicago on Monday, July 14, 2018. The concert is part of a yearlong celebration of Nelson Mandela that concludes on the late, former South African President’s 100th birthday on Wednesday, July 18.
Orbert Davis, CJP’s Artistic Director, originally composed the piece 10 years ago to celebrate Mandela’s 90th birthday. The composition weaves jazz, classical and South African melodies. The program also features special guest performances by Dee Alexander, Ron OJ Parsons, and culminates in a grand chorus of the CJP Jazz academy Youth Choir.
“The inspiration to compose this work for the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic comes from the many parallels I can draw between Mandela’s ideals of perseverance, his mission for diversity, reconciliation and equality,” Davis said, “and how the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic’s mission mirrors these ideals both externally and internally.”
Hope In Action – A Nelson Mandela Centennial is presented by Millennium Park and the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Additional support is provided by Allstate, Caerus Foundation Inc, Music Performance Trust Fund, Ozinga, and the Reva and David Logan Foundation, and the South African Consulate General of Chicago. For more information, visit www.chicagojazzphilharmonic.org.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE AND TICKET INFORMATION Hope In Action: Celebrating Nelson Mandela’s Centennial
Monday, July 6, 2018 , 6:30PM
Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park
201 E. Randolph St
Chicago, IL 60602
ABOUT CHICAGO JAZZ PHILHARMONIC
Founded in 2004 by Orbert Davis and Mark Ingram as America’s definitive “Third Stream” orchestra, Chicago Jazz Philharmonic provides rich, accessible, multi-cultural music experiences that bridge gaps in jazz and classical genres. The CJP performs works from the standard jazz big band to the classical symphony, while creating a “new aesthetic” in cross-genre collaborations. The organization also provides music education through Jazz Alive, a weekly music and band education program for Chicago Public School students, and the Summer Jazz Academy, a two-week immersion program in music theory and practice. Chicago Jazz Philharmonic performances entertain and inspire, and the community-based education programs improve lives from school age through adulthood.