Jonathan Emile Brings SONGS OF FREEDOM School Tour Across Quebec, Now thru 2/28

In celebration of Black History Month, Overture with the Arts and the Grammy-nominated Hip-Hop artist, Jamaican/Canadian Jonathan Emile, brings the African Diaspora culture to life in an entertaining yet educational format with Songs of Freedom: Music as Reflection, Expression and a Tool for Social Change.

High school, CEGEP and university students go on a Journey from slavery to freedom while examining music as both an instrument of reflection and an agent of Social change. The interactive presentation blends historical facts, songs of the civil rights movement and some of Emile's socially aware music, creating a dynamic event that appeals to students of all ages.

"We just get bigger every year," beamed Overture Founder and Executive Director, Akilah Newton. "The first year we toured to a handful of schools, then tripled our bookings last year and this year, we've grown another 30%. Besides educating students about Black history, the program also enables discussion about racism in all its forms." Emile, who has been with Overture since the beginning and donates a fair amount of his time providing voluntary web support and more said, "I was really attracted to Overture with the Arts because of its community outreach program. Akilah has big plans and I'm really excited about where we're going." (Visit YouTube to see Emile in action with the Songs of Freedom initiative.)

FREE Public Event - February 28th
Partnering with the Riverdale High School Community Learning Centre and the West Island Black Community Association (WIBCA), and funded in part by Yolande James (Liberal MNA for the West Island district of Nelligan), Overture with the Arts brings Songs of Freedom to Riverdale High School, (5060 Sources Boulevard in Pierrefonds), for a free public event on Thursday, February 28th. This wrap-up bash for the Songs of Freedom school tour will include performances by Emile, as well as some of Riverdale's students, and is open to everyone 12 years and over. The doors open at 5:30 PM and the show starts at 6:00 PM.

Following the show, Caribbean Tasty Treats is providing a buffet dinner for up to 60 people. Admittance to the dinner is by donation only and those wishing to attend are asked to reserve before February 23rd by calling 514.889.8678 or by sending an e-mail to info@overturewiththearts.org. (Reservations are required for the dinner only.)

Overture with the Arts, through the MAI mentorship program, has benefitted from financial support from the Ministère de la Culture, Communications, et Conditions féminine du Québec and the Ville de Montréal under the agreement on the cultural development Of Montreal 2012-2013. The Songs of Freedom school tour is also partly funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Overture with the Arts is a non-profit organization dedicated to making performing arts Education available to young people from all walks of life through subsidized workshops and after-school programs. To learn more, visit www.overturewiththearts.org. For all enquiries about Overture with the Arts programs, email info@overturewiththearts.org or call 514.889.8678.

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