Gospel star Richard Smallwood to headline Hartford Celebrates Hartford
Contact: Jennifer Gallagher (860) 987-6082; E-Mail: jennifer_gallagher@bushnell.org
HARTFORD, CONN., April 9, 2002 - World-class composer, pianist and arranger Richard Smallwood will headline this year's Hartford Celebrates Hartford, a night of gospel music in The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts' Mortensen Hall that connects the 72-year old theater with local church communities. Hartford Celebrates Hartford will be presented on Friday, May 17 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are available now by calling The Bushnell Box Office at (860) 987-5900 or online at www.bushnell.org. Funded by a donation from The Robert and Margaret Patricelli Family Foundation, Hartford Celebrates Hartford will also feature a mass choir made up of members from over 40 local churches.
"We are so pleased that Hartford Celebrates Hartford will again be a reality," said Robert Patricelli, a member of The Bushnell's Board of Trustees. "Last year's event was so successful, and we know it will continue to grow year after year. Margaret and I are thrilled that this celebration of Gospel music has become an annual event."
"Hartford Celebrates Hartford is the perfect example of what can happen when members of the community come together," said David R. Fay, Executive Director and CEO for The Bushnell. "We hope that this success story will inspire future collaborations."
Like the celebrations from the past two years, the evening will feature a choir made up of over 200 performers representing over 50 local churches. The choir will once again be led by Pastor Marichal Monts of the Citadel of Love.
"The energy is already in the air for Hartford Celebrates Hartford," says Monts. "My phone has been ringing off the hook with people calling and asking when will the rehearsals begin. HCH is unique because it is a time when we come together to reflect on the incredible musical gifts and talents that we have in the greater Hartford community. With all that has been going on in our world and society, this will be yet another opportunity for us to come together and share the healing and love that is felt through the singing of great gospel music."
To further the involvement of the community, the gospel pieces sung by the choir will be written by local composers in the church community and premiered at the concert. The local composers include Minister Marlowe Smith of the First Cathedral in Bloomfield, Bishop T. Allen Stringer of the Greater Bibleway Temple of Praise, Minister Timothy Ralph of the Christ Church of Deliverance, and Minister J.L.Seymour, the founder and director of Radical Praise.
About Richard Smallwood Richard Smallwood has clearly and solidly changed the face of gospel music. He can impeccably blend classical movements with traditional gospel, and arrive at a mix that is invariably Smallwood's alone. Smallwood graduated cum laude from renowned Howard University with degrees in vocal performance and piano. The Richard Smallwood Singers were the first black gospel group to go to the Soviet Union.
A diverse and innovative artist, Richard Smallwood has achieved many honors, including a Grammy(r) award. Smallwood began his recording career in the late 1970s with the album The Richard Smallwood Singers. The debut project spent 87 weeks on Billboard's Gospel chart. His next several projects, including Psalms, Textures, Vision, Testimony and Live at Howard University all received Grammy nominations. Smallwood's production of Quincy Jones' gospel project Handel's Soulful Messiah earned him the award.
Smallwood's music has never been confined to any one genre. His song, "I Love the Lord" crossed onto the big screen when Whitney Houston sang it in the film The Preacher's Wife.
About The Robert and Margaret Patricelli Family Foundation The Robert and Margaret Patricelli Family Foundation supports a variety of primary health care, education, arts, and community organizations and programs, with an emphasis on Connecticut-based organizations and on community revitalization in Hartford. John E. Wilson is Executive Director and may be reached at (860) 674-0181, or at 22 Waterville Road in Avon.
Ticket and Performance Information Hartford Celebrates Hartford will be held at The Bushnell Friday, May 17 at 8:00 p.m. Ticket prices range from $10.00-$20.00 and are on sale now at The Bushnell Box Office located at 166 Capitol Avenue in Hartford, by calling (860) 987-5900 or online at www.bushnell.org. Groups of 20 or more may call (860) 987-5959.
About The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts The Bushnell is Connecticut's premier performing arts center, hosting more than 450 events yearly, including major Broadway tours, symphony orchestras, family presentations, local arts and community events. In November 2001, The Bushnell completed a $45 million expansion project that added a second, 907-seat theater to the existing historic structure. The new, state-of-the-art performance hall allows for expanded arts, entertainment and community offerings. The Bushnell's nationally-recognized arts-in-education program, PARTNERS (Partners in Arts and Education Revitalizing Schools), is a cross-community educational effort serving 40 schools in 17 districts throughout the Greater Hartford area. The Bushnell opened in January 1930 and is a non-profit organization. For more information, call The Bushnell at (860) 987-6000, The Bushnell Box Office at (860) 987-5900 or visit our website at www.bushnell.org.