Black History Month celebrated with gospel, love and faith
The Diverse Musicians Alliance and Black Student Alliance presented a Black History Month Musical Celebration on Tuesday in the Grusin Music Hall.
The event featured black art, songs and spirituals.
“Music has always been a part of the African American Culture,” said Fred Peterbark, a performer at the musical celebration.
The show was a mixture of music and poetry from influential black artists like Langston Hughes, Paul Laurence Dunbar and Robert Owens.
“I really like the poetry. Langston Hughes is amazing. It makes me want to go out and read more of his work,” said Ashley Shelton, a sophomore political science major.
The stage was beautiful in its simplicity, bearing only a black piano and the performers.
The melodies were soft, yet powerful. The content was gospel, love and faith from black culture.
Bringing the music to life with their talents were David Howell, Fred Peterbark, Amber Stachitus, Christine Scheetz and Andrew Fischer.
The notes streaming out of the piano were the work of Alex Maynegre and Mutsumi Moteki.
Putting a voice to Langston Hughes’ poetry were Jarvis Fuller and Fred Peterbark.
“These people really know how to bring the music alive. Fred Peterbark was my favorite,” Shelton said.
Throughout the performance, the crowd sat quietly swaying along to the singers’ voices. They offered roaring applause at the end of each song.
“I came to this performance because it sounded cool. They are all really amazing,” said Rhonda Wilkinson, a freshman music education major.
Contact Campus Press Writer Dana Silva at Dana.Silva@thecampuspress.com
