This year’s annual celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has gone virtual! We miss being able to get together with all of you at the MassMutual Center, but we hope you enjoy the program we’ve created.
MLK Day House Band, Billy Arnold, drums; Jason Schwartz, bass; Scott Sasanecki, guitar Ralph Whittle, piano
Invocation, Reverend Catharine Cummings, Wesley United Methodist Church, Springfield
“Lift Every Voice and Sing”, James Weldon & J. Rosamond Johnson, Springfield CommUnity Chorale and MLK Festival Orchestra, Directed by Vanessa Ford and Knieriem
Reflection: The Dream is Calling You, Waleska Lugo-DeJesus
“Glory” by John Legend and Common, Sonido Musica Symphonic Youth Orchestra, Directed by Eleni Yalanis, Karl Knapp, and Chris Moehringer
Greetings from the Commonwealth: The Honorable Charlie Baker, Governor of Massachusetts
MLK Festival Bucket Drummers, Sonido Musica Program, Directed by Rick Marshall
Greetings from the City, The Honorable Domenic Sarno, Mayor of Springfield
Dramatic Selection, D.R.E.A.M. Studios, Directed by Benjamin Smith
Greetings from the Senate, State Representative Adam Gomez
“You’ll Never Walk Alone”, Springfield CommUnity Chorale Gospel Choir, Directed by Vanessa Ford
Oratory Performance, Djongo-Allen Tchaatchouang, Winner of 2019 Senator Edward W. Brooke III Oratorical Competition, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
Freedom’s Reflection, Enchanted Circle Theater, Directed by Amina Jordan-Mendez
“Adoration” by Florence Price, MLK Festival Orchestra, Directed by Marty Knieriem
Charge of the Day, Ronn Johnson
“We Shall Overcome” by Charles Albert Tindley, Musicians and Singers from Springfield and Beyond
Special Thanks to our MLK Day 2021 Sponsors and Springfield & Holyoke Music Teachers, Principals, and Administration
Special thanks to Julie Jaron, Springfield Public School Director of Visual & Performing Arts, Mark Todd and Cassi Stewart, Co-Department Chairs, Visual and Performing Arts, Holyoke Public Schools
CMSS Sonido Musica Teaching Artists, Eleni Yalanis, Director, Ava D’Agostino, Justin Esiason, Jeff Fennell, Joe Jewett, Rachael Jones, Karl Knapp, Yoonhee Ko, Rick Marshall, Olivia Min Noh, Chris Moehringer, Tara Murphy,, Rachel Rivard, Zachary Robarge, Dean Yalanis
MLK Day 2020 Planning Committee
Ronn Johnson, Eileen McCaffery, Benjamin Smith, Calvin Hill, Brendon Holland Marty Knieriem, , Lenise Williams, Vanessa Ford, Patricia Bernard, Rick Marshall, Amina Jordan-Mendez, Priscilla Kaye Hellweg, Sierra Simmons, Tye Melendez