May 27, 2021
National Philharmonic is excited to announce the world premiere of the highly anticipated Requiem Cantata in memory of George Floyd, “A Knee on The Neck” by Adolphus Hailstork with text by Herbert Martin. The world premiere will be March 26, 2022 at the Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda, MD. The performance will feature the National Philharmonic Chorale with special guest artists Aundi Marie Moore, Norman Shankle, and Kenneth Overton.
This work of immense power written by Adolphus Hailstork, one of the nation’s eminent composers, was created due to an inspired response to the tragedy of Mr. Floyd’s death through the text of historian and Professor Emeritus of The University of Dayton Ohio, Herbert Martin.
Scored for an orchestra, large chorus, and three soloists, “A Knee on The Neck” speaks to the challenges which Black Americans have endured and engages the audience to share that journey in powerful ways.
Tickets for the performance will go on sale this summer at nationalphilharmonic.org and the Strathmore Box Office.
The National Philharmonic, conducted by Piotr Gajewski, serves the residents of the Washington, DC metro area. The primary goal of the organization is to provide audiences with high quality, professional performances at a convenient location and affordable prices. The National Philharmonic also aims to appeal to the diverse cultural backgrounds of the community through its musical performances and educational programs.
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