2021 Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration at Cleveland Orchestra

Today, The Cleveland Orchestra announced details of its 2021 Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, which will take place virtually because of the ongoing pandemic. In the Orchestra's 41st year of offering music to celebrate and reflect on the life and legacy of Dr. King, it will provide a variety of ways for guests to honor him in the safety of their homes from JANUARY 14 through early FEBRUARY.

"While it is sadly not possible for all of us to gather at Severance Hall for this year's concert, The Cleveland Orchestra is committed to continuing the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration into its 41st year," said André Gremillet, President & CEO of The Cleveland Orchestra. "Every year, we honor the legacy of Dr. King by offering inspiring and meaningful music performances to our community. This year, we will present free video performances through our Adella streaming service and social media networks - and through radio and TV broadcasts with our partners at ideastream."

"This year's celebration highlights the work of Black composers George Walker, Florence Price, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, and Cleveland native Leslie Adams in new and recent video recordings performed by members of The Cleveland Orchestra" said Mark Williams, Chief Artistic Officer. "The celebration includes an opportunity to watch the 2018 Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Concert for free on Adella. This concert featured Music Director Franz Welser-Möst leading The Cleveland Orchestra, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Chorus, soloist Ryan Speedo Green, and narrator James Pickens, Jr. in a reverent and uplifting performance paying homage to Dr. King's message of unity and equality."

"In a typical year, one highlight of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration is our Free Community Open House and Day of Music," said Joan Katz Napoli, Senior Director of Education and Community Programs. "For the 2021 celebration, we're proud to amplify and showcase the work of our community partners by sharing videos of their music, art, and powerful words in honor of Dr. King. The celebration concludes with the MLK Community Service Awards, which this year recognize several Northeast Ohio organizations that fight for racial equity, economic justice, and education - and that champion these causes through the arts."

2018 Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Concert on Adella

Recorded in 2018, The Cleveland Orchestra's 38th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Concert will be available for viewing free through the Adella digital streaming service (www.adella.live) beginning on Thursday, JANUARY 14, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. until Wednesday, APRIL 14, 2021.

The Cleveland Orchestra's 38th annual free concert in celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. took place at Severance Hall on JANUARY 14, 2018 led by Music Director Franz Welser-Möst. This concert was sponsored by KeyBank and supported by a grant from the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation.

The JANUARY 14, 2018 program featured classical selections by Beethoven, Respighi, and George Walker, as well as traditional hymns and spirituals such as "Down by the Riverside," "Precious Lord," and "Lift Every Voice and Sing." The complete program is listed below. The Cleveland Orchestra was joined for this performance by:

· Narrator James Pickens Jr., a Cleveland native who is best known as Dr. Richard Webber on Grey's Anatomy and Deputy Director Alvin Kersh on The X-Files;

· Guest soloist Ryan Speedo Green, called "a show stopper" by The New York Times; and

· The Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Chorus - an all-Cleveland community volunteer chorus - directed by Dr. William Henry Caldwell.