Visiting Musicians to Celebrate African-American Women

Core Ensemble will perform the chamber music theatre work “Ain’t I a Woman?” at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18 in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall.

“Ain’t I a Woman?” is a joyful exploration of the trials and triumphs of four passionate and accomplished African-American women: renowned novelist and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston; ex-slave and fiery abolitionist Sojourner Truth; exuberant folk artist Clementine Hunter; and fervent civil rights worker Fannie Lou Hamer. The musical score is drawn from the heartfelt spirituals and blues of the deep south, the urban vitality of the Jazz Age and contemporary concert music by African-Americans. Shinnerrie Jackson portrays multiple characters while interacting with the onstage musical trio of cello, piano and percussion.

Core Ensemble developed Chamber Music Theatre by creating a marriage of theatrical narrative to chamber for music performance. Since 1993, the group has toured in every region of the United States and internationally to Australia, England, Russia, Ukraine and the British Virgin Islands. They have received support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Palm Beach County Cultural Council and the Aaron Copland Fund for Music.

This Truman performance was made possible through the generous support of interdisciplinary studies, the Center for Inclusion and Diversity and the Music Department.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information contact Bridget Thomas, director of interdisciplinary studies, at ids@truman.edu.