(lively orchestral music) (lively orchestral music continues) (lively orchestral music continues) (audience clapping and cheering) (audience clapping and cheering) (audience clapping and cheering continues) (lively orchestral music) (lively orchestral music continues) (lively orchestral music continues) (lively orchestral music continues) (lively orchestral music continues) (lively orchestral music continues) (lively orchestral music continues) (lively orchestral music continues) (lively orchestral music continues) (lively orchestral music continues) (lively orchestral music continues) (lively orchestral music continues) (lively orchestral music continues) (lively orchestral music continues) (lively orchestral music continues) (lively orchestral music continues) (lively orchestral music continues) (lively orchestral music continues) (lively orchestral music continues) (lively orchestral music continues) (lively orchestral music continues) (lively orchestral music continues) (audience clapping) (gentle orchestral music) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (audience clapping) - I'm honored to return back here and lead this concert.

And I think, yeah, honored really is the word.

I'm honored to be trusted.

That's how it feels.

I look at this opportunity standing on this stage in front of this orchestra and I'm like, "Wow, they trust me to lead something as iconic and important as a celebration."

My heart is warm, overwhelmed with gratitude to be trusted to lead something like this.

My preparation for this concert musically is about, it's the same as I would any concert, but I feel like thematically, you know, the theme with this, it's completely different.

I have to reflect and look at Dr.

King's life, but then also look at the other composer's life and see what's the story actually being told.

What's the story here?

And I think it's incredible for this concert specifically that we have music by all Black composers, even the stories of the Black composers that are on this program.

And then the stories of the music speaks to Dr.

King's legacy and it honors his message.

It's the meaning behind the music and the Black themes inside spirituals and things of that sort, but also jazz and blues, you know, things that are rooted in African American culture.

I feel like that all honors Dr.

King's message.

With Dr.

King's legacy, for myself, I like to say that he's an inspiration, right?

But I feel like the word is deeper than that.

I feel like he's an example, one that I try to follow and one that, you know, me and my colleagues who look like me, especially as conductors, there aren't many Black conductors out here.

And I think he's the example for us by saying, you know, how do we step up as leaders inside of our field?

How do we speak out against injustices?

How do we really make a stand and advocate for fellow musicians who look like us?

I think we look to his example.

And so that's really what his legacy means to me.

And it's that much more special being able to do it in his old house.

- Being at Ebenezer is just such a special experience, you know, just walking in the building and seeing the artifacts and the pictures and all of the things on the walls about the King family and all of the amazing things that this congregation has done through the years.

This congregation has helped birth one of the biggest changes in our society in the past several centuries.

And so it just feels like you get tinkly feelings coming into this building and being able to be part of inspiring the next generation of what happens here at the church is real privilege.

It's truly extraordinary, the bringing together of these two great families.

You know, it's not just two institutions that are cornerstones of Atlanta's culture, but it's truly families.

You know, the Atlanta Symphony feels like a family, and the Ebenezer Church family feels like a family as well.

And so bringing those together for all of us here in the hall just felt so special.

It felt like such a privilege to be able to witness that and remember Dr.

King together in that very special way.

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Well, so glad to see all of you here.

How y'all doing today?

Wonderful, wonderful.

Well, my name is Jonathan Taylor Rush, and it's such a great pleasure to be back here in Atlanta, to celebrate the legacy of Dr.

King at this historic Ebenezer Baptist Church.

(audience clapping and cheering) It's also a great pleasure to share the stage with world class musicians, the Atlanta Symphony, our combined choirs, and of course our esteemed soloists.

Can we give them a round of applause?

(audience clapping) - John 3:16 is definitely one of the most known Bible scriptures for anyone.

It's a great foundation of faith and it talks about God's love for the world.

And when I think about Martin Luther King, I think of those same things.

We think about his love for the world and even in the face of adversity.

And I think his life and the way he chose to live his life is very reflected of that scripture as well.

The through line being love, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son and whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life."

And while it talks about that everlasting life, I think it also reflects Martin Luther King's life now, he has an everlasting life because he is constantly brought up when we speak about civil rights and when we, I mean, we are constantly in those battles.

But his legacy and his teachings are still prevalent right now in our communities and beyond in the world.

His teachings were a model for the entire world, and I think that shows the love that was pouring from him.

My parents are both pastors, so I grew up in the church, literally, womb to now, okay?

But I didn't discover that I really love music until I got to Morgan State University and I changed my major to music completely on a whim.

And everyone thought I was crazy because they never heard me sing.

But turns out I had a natural talent for singing opera.

And so that's really where I got my start.

The sound world is already just enveloped in me, and the way I expressed myself in composition is exactly that way.

I kind of use the idioms that I grew up listening to from church and from hearing my grandmother harmonize with the melody rather than singing the melody at all.

Church really did shape my background, even though I didn't get my musical start in church.

But Morgan State still holds church and gospel music as a cherished art form.

In some spaces people don't view gospel music as valid or something of rich background and culture and history.

But it does have that.

And I'd love to share my culture and my writing.

I feel that the worlds are very blended in this concert.

And it's exactly the same way it was at Morgan State.

We always had a professional orchestra and the choir would range from singing spirituals to concert works.

The structure is very similar in this concert.

And I think that's something that's really special in African American art song tradition, that there is a range of sounds and flows and pacing and all these different things.

And I think John 3:16 lends itself well in between that space because when you think of artists like Richard Smallwood, that literally was devastated to our entire community, especially Black classical artists because his music blended those worlds so well.

And I think we all have so much inspiration from him.

And I think John 3:16 comes from some of that inspiration as well.

(gentle orchestral music) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) ♪ For God so loved the world ♪ ♪ He gave his Son ♪ ♪ For God so loved the world ♪ ♪ He gave his Son ♪ (gentle orchestral music) (gentle orchestral music continues) ♪ And who ever believeth ♪ ♪ And who ever believeth ♪ ♪ Shall not perish ♪ ♪ Shall not perish ♪ ♪ Shall not perish ♪ ♪ Not perish ♪ ♪ For God so loved the world ♪ ♪ He gave his Son ♪ ♪ For God so loved the world ♪ ♪ He gave his Son ♪ ♪ Only Son ♪ ♪ Only Son ♪ ♪ Begotten Son ♪ ♪ And who ever believeth ♪ ♪ Shall not perish ♪ ♪ And who ever believeth ♪ ♪ Shall not perish ♪ ♪ Shall not perish ♪ ♪ They shall not perish ♪ (gentle orchestral music) ♪ But will have ♪ ♪ Everlasting ♪ ♪ Life ♪ (choir vocalizing) (choir vocalizing continues) (gentle orchestral music) ♪ When we all get to heaven ♪ ♪ What a day of rejoicing that will be ♪ ♪ When we all ♪ ♪ See Jesus ♪ ♪ We'll sing and shout the victory ♪ ♪ For God so loved the world ♪ ♪ He gave his Son ♪ ♪ For God so loved the world ♪ ♪ He gave his Son ♪ ♪ Only Son ♪ ♪ Begotten Son ♪ (choir vocalizing) (gentle orchestral music) (audience clapping) (audience clapping continues) (gentle music) (gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) (gentle music continues) - Without him really paving the way for many people who look like me, you know, I wouldn't be here had it not been for his perseverance or his boldness or even his faith.

I would not be here and be able to stand on the stage in front of the Atlanta Symphony.

So it means the world to me.

Ebenezer Baptist Church itself, it's so historic, right?

It's spiritual hub or even cultural hub, not just for Black Atlanta, but I wanna say not even Black America for the world, honestly.

And it's just an honor to be able to walk inside this room.

And I get overwhelmed with emotions because I just know all the history that lies here.

I remember being a child and we got to see the old building and then of course coming Horizon Sanctuary and tour this building.

And I remember my father's a preacher, I remember he stood up on the pulpit and just acted like he was preaching one time.

I remember looking at him saying, "That'd be really cool to be on that stage one day."

And here we are.

So it really means the world and just what this place is.

And just to the city of Atlanta and who Dr.

King was to the city of Atlanta, right?

He really helped form and shape the city and really give it direction.

And so it would make sense that the musical heartbeat of the city can come together with this cultural hub of Ebenezer Baptist Church and put on this celebration.

(lively orchestral music) (lively orchestral music continues) (lively orchestral music continues) ♪ I will lift up mine eyes ♪ ♪ To the hills ♪ ♪ To the hills ♪ ♪ From whence cometh my help ♪ ♪ I will lift up mine eyes ♪ ♪ To the hills ♪ ♪ From whence cometh my help ♪ ♪ I will lift up ♪ ♪ I will lift up ♪ ♪ Mine eyes ♪ ♪ To the hills ♪ ♪ To the hills ♪ ♪ From whence cometh my help ♪ (lively orchestral music) (lively orchestral music continues) ♪ My help cometh ♪ ♪ Surely cometh ♪ ♪ From the Lord ♪ ♪ Maker of Heaven and Earth ♪ ♪ Maker of Heaven and Earth ♪ ♪ He will not suffer thy foot to be moveth ♪ ♪ He will not suffer thy foot to be moveth ♪ ♪ He that keepeth thee ♪ ♪ Will not slumber nor sleep ♪ (lively orchestral music) ♪ The sun shall not smite thee by day ♪ ♪ Nor the moon by night ♪ ♪ The Lord shall preserve thy forever ♪ ♪ The Lord shall preserve thy forever ♪ ♪ My Lord ♪ ♪ My Lord ♪ ♪ My Lord ♪ ♪ Shall preserve ♪ ♪ Thy soul ♪ ♪ I will lift up mine eyes to the hills ♪ (audience clapping) (lively orchestral music) ♪ O praise the Lord, all ye nations ♪ ♪ For His merciful kindness is great toward us ♪ ♪ O praise the Lord, all ye nations ♪ ♪ For His merciful kindness is great toward us ♪ ♪ And the truth of the Lord endureth forever ♪ (gentle orchestral music) (gentle orchestral music continues) ♪ And the truth of the Lord endureth forever ♪ ♪ His merciful kindness is great toward us ♪ ♪ And the truth of the lord endureth forever ♪ ♪ His truth endureth forever ♪ ♪ We were made to praise the Lord ♪ ♪ For His mercy is great toward us ♪ ♪ O praise the Lord, all ye nations ♪ ♪ For His merciful kindness is great toward us ♪ ♪ And the truth of the Lord endureth forever ♪ ♪ And the truth of the Lord endureth forever ♪ ♪ Praise be the Lord ♪ ♪ Praise be the Lord ♪ ♪ Praise be the Lord ♪ ♪ Praise be the Lord ♪ ♪ For His mercy will lead people in heaven ♪ ♪ Praise be the Lord ♪ ♪ Praise be the Lord ♪ ♪ Praise be the Lord ♪ ♪ Praise be the Lord ♪ ♪ For His mercy will lead people in heaven ♪ ♪ Glory to God ♪ ♪ Glory to God ♪ ♪ For His merciful kindness is great ♪ ♪ Glory to God ♪ ♪ Glory to God ♪ ♪ Hallelujah forever to God ♪ ♪ Glory to God ♪ ♪ Glory to God ♪ (choir vocalizing) (dramatic orchestral music) (choir vocalizing continues) (audience clapping and cheering) (gentle music) (gentle music continues) - Well, let me say, first of all, Langston Hughes is without question, in my opinion, one of the greatest poet writers of all time.

And I refrain from saying Black poets because I mean, just what I said, he's iconic among all poets of all times.

And he poses certain kinds of things in his writing that are powerful statements on social and civil rights and events.

He poses questions as well as, makes statements.

He presents, as I call it, the what is as well as what if.

I Dream a World is one of those what ifs.

He has powerful points such as the Negro speaks of rivers, and any number of mother to son.

Those are what ifs.

But even in I Dream a World, which is an ideal view of the world, it is a kind of utopian concept that we really find ourselves in a world where we realize this ultimate peace and harmony.

And that is an idea that I think we all should ponder.

We can be better, we can do better.

What if.

And so that is certainly the impetus behind how I conceive the music for this.

That poem came to me by one of my former students who asked me if I would consider setting the poem.

And I read it and I was so moved by it as I read the details of it.

Because the what is in that, it speaks to greed, avarice, wretchedness, and the what ifs speaks of love, peace, harmony, freedom.

- Well listen next, it is our honor really to present to you a world premier orchestration of I Dream a World by none other than Dr.

Uzee Brown Jr.

Yeah.

(audience clapping) The work was set to the 1941 text of the same title by none other than Langston Hughes.

It's a poem that really, it imagines a world that's shaped by love rather than division, right?

Where peace is what guides us, it guides our paths, and freedom is shared by everyone.

And honestly, this is a vision that really speaks to the ideals that we gather here today to celebrate, right, at this King Celebration.

And so it's an absolutely incredible and really impactful piece.

And guess what?

Dr.

Brown is here in the building with us today, the legendary composer.

(audience clapping) And we'll acknowledge Dr.

Brown again, of course after this work.

But he's here for this world premier.

And once again, we're gonna welcome Timothy Miller who's really going to bring these words to life.

You all are getting ready to hear something that has never been performed or heard before.

It's a world premiere of "I Dream A World".

(audience clapping) (dramatic orchestral music) (dramatic orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music) ♪ I dream a world where man ♪ ♪ No other will scorn ♪ ♪ Where love ♪ ♪ Will bless the Earth ♪ ♪ And peace its paths adorn ♪ ♪ I dream a world where all ♪ ♪ Will know sweet freedom's way ♪ ♪ Where greed ♪ ♪ No longer saps the soul ♪ ♪ Nor avarice blights our day ♪ ♪ A world I dream where Black or white ♪ ♪ Whatever race ♪ ♪ You be ♪ ♪ Will share the bounties of the Earth ♪ ♪ And every man is free ♪ ♪ Free ♪ ♪ Free ♪ ♪ Where wretchedness will hang its head ♪ ♪ And joy ♪ ♪ Like a pearl ♪ ♪ Attends the needs of all mankind ♪ (dramatic orchestral music) ♪ Of such I dream ♪ ♪ Of such I dream ♪ ♪ A world ♪ (audience clapping and cheering) (audience clapping and cheering continues) (audience clapping and cheering continues) - Anytime for a composer that you hear something that's being exposed to the public.

And that's a very large audience.

There are butterflies, I will tell you now.

I mean, it's not like you just feel comfortable in your seat because you're hoping that what you've conceived comes off consistent with you, whatever that conception may be.

And so I was excited and at the same time, I sit there as though I'm getting up to perform myself.

But it's wonderful to be able to experience that.

There was interesting concept regarding my musical career.

It was at a concert at Ebenezer, and I did a sizable number of gospel pieces as well as some of the traditional and more classical works for chorus.

And I said when I began the gospel section that bear in mind, we are a people who have experienced all kinds of music, the highest of the Western European traditions, as well as our own folk culture.

And it was my mentor here at Morehouse, Dr.

Wendel Phillips Whalum, who really taught me to appreciate things that I had done and heard all my life, but did not put into context.

And so for me it was a discovery.

And I've always said that I knew Mahalia before I knew Mozart.

And that is true.

And I don't think there's a separation of the marriage of those concepts because the human experience, regardless of one's nationality or ethnicity, is similar at so many levels.

And the same statements and ideas can come from someone, whether they're Austrian or whether they're African American, that speaks to the heart and the human condition.

So for me to have the opportunity to be in the midst of a performance was such a tremendous magnitude of unique music.

Was wonderful.

(gentle orchestral music) ♪ Hmm ♪ ♪ Hmm ♪ ♪ Talk to me ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh ♪ ♪ Oh-oh-oh ♪ ♪ Oh-Oh ♪ ♪ Talk to me ♪ (gentle orchestral music) ♪ Alone in a room ♪ ♪ It's just me and you ♪ ♪ I feel so lost ♪ ♪ That I don't know what to do ♪ ♪ Now what if choose ♪ ♪ The wrong thing to do ♪ ♪ I'm so afraid ♪ ♪ Afraid of disappointing you ♪ ♪ So, I need to talk to you ♪ ♪ And ask you for your guidance ♪ ♪ Especially today ♪ ♪ When my life seems just a little bit cloudy ♪ ♪ Guide me until I'm sure ♪ ♪ I open up my heart ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ My hopes and dreams ♪ ♪ Are fading fast ♪ ♪ I'm all burned out ♪ ♪ I don't think my strength is gonna last ♪ ♪ So, I'm crying out ♪ ♪ Crying out to you, Lord ♪ ♪ 'Cause I know that You're the only one ♪ ♪ Who can pull me through ♪ ♪ So, I know I need to talk to you ♪ ♪ And ask you for your guidance ♪ ♪ Especially today ♪ ♪ When my life seems just a little bit cloudy ♪ ♪ Guide me until I'm sure ♪ ♪ I open up ♪ ♪ My heart ♪ ♪ So ♪ ♪ Show me how to do things your way ♪ ♪ Don't let me make the same mistakes ♪ ♪ Over and over again ♪ ♪ Your will be done ♪ ♪ And I'll be the one ♪ ♪ To make sure that it's carried out ♪ ♪ And in me, I don't want any doubt ♪ ♪ That's why ♪ ♪ I wanna talk to you ♪ ♪ And ask you for your guidance ♪ ♪ Especially today ♪ ♪ When my life seems just a little bit cloudy ♪ ♪ Lord, you can pull me through ♪ ♪ I open up my heart, ♪ ♪ All I need is just ♪ ♪ A single word from you ♪ ♪ That's why I open ♪ ♪ I open ♪ ♪ I open, I open up my heart ♪ ♪ Just one word from you ♪ ♪ Can make the difference in what I do, Lord ♪ ♪ Guide me until I'm sure ♪ ♪ I open ♪ ♪ I open up my heart ♪ ♪ Just say one word, one word, one word ♪ ♪ One word, one word ♪ ♪ I open up my ♪ ♪ You're the lover of my soul ♪ ♪ The captain of my sea ♪ ♪ I need a word from you ♪ ♪ I open up ♪ ♪ My ♪ ♪ Heart ♪ (audience clapping and cheering) (audience clapping and cheering continues) (lively music) - As our emphasis has been for the last two years, focusing on African American classical composers and also gospel composers in the same concert.

This year is following in that tradition.

And whereas last year we focused on Atlanta composers.

We do have one, the late Richard Smallwood was born here in Atlanta.

So we will be honoring him in a tribute.

Daniel Moore put together a beautiful arrangement of several of Richard Smallwood's compositions that will be a feature of our choir, our band, and several of our soloists.

So their music is ripe for a concert like this with an orchestra that has all of the instruments that are there for all of the voices, for the huge range of soprano, all the way down to bass.

And then to add, you know, soloists and things like that to it.

This particular concert is really going to showcase that more classical bent to gospel music than I think we did last year.

(gentle orchestral music) ♪ I love the the Lord ♪ ♪ He heard my ♪ ♪ My cry ♪ ♪ Yes, he did ♪ ♪ And pitied ♪ ♪ Every ♪ ♪ Groan ♪ ♪ Long as I ♪ ♪ I live ♪ ♪ And troubles rise ♪ ♪ I'll haste unto ♪ ♪ To, to, to ♪ ♪ I'll haste unto His throne ♪ ♪ I'll haste unto His throne ♪ ♪ I'll haste unto His throne ♪ (gentle orchestral music) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) ♪ Lord, I will lift ♪ ♪ Mine eyes to the hills ♪ ♪ Knowing ♪ ♪ My help ♪ ♪ Is coming ♪ ♪ From you ♪ ♪ Your peace, you give me ♪ ♪ In time of the storm ♪ ♪ You are the source of my strength ♪ ♪ You are ♪ ♪ The strength of my life ♪ ♪ I lift my hands ♪ ♪ In total praise ♪ ♪ To you ♪ ♪ You are the source of my strength ♪ ♪ You are the strength of my life ♪ ♪ I lift my hands ♪ ♪ In total praise to you ♪ ♪ Amen ♪ ♪ Amen ♪ ♪ Amen ♪ ♪ Amen ♪ ♪ Amen ♪ ♪ Amen ♪ ♪ Amen ♪ ♪ Amen ♪ (audience clapping and cheering) (audience clapping and cheering continues) (lively orchestral music) - All right y'all, come on.

We gonna praise the Lord.

We gonna take it back, come on.

We gonna bless the Lord.

We gonna take it back, come on.

We gonna bless the Lord.

We gonna take it back, let's go.

(lively orchestral music) I want everybody to put their hands together, come on y'all.

(lively orchestral music) (lively orchestral music continues) ♪ I will bless the Lord ♪ ♪ Oh my soul ♪ ♪ And all that is within me ♪ ♪ Bless His holy name ♪ ♪ I will bless the Lord ♪ ♪ Oh my soul ♪ ♪ And all that is within me ♪ ♪ Bless His holy name ♪ ♪ He has done great things ♪ - Come on.

♪ He has done great things ♪ - Everybody say.

♪ He has done great things ♪ ♪ He has done great things ♪ ♪ He has done great things ♪ ♪ He has done great things ♪ ♪ Bless His holy name ♪ ♪ He has done great things ♪ - Come on.

♪ He has done great things ♪ - Everybody say.

♪ He has done great things ♪ ♪ He has done great things ♪ ♪ He has done great things ♪ - Just a little bit louder, come on y'all.

♪ He has done great things ♪ ♪ Bless His ♪ ♪ Bless his holy name ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ - Come on y'all, let me hear ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Lord you're worthy ♪ ♪ Of the glory ♪ ♪ And the honor ♪ ♪ Hallelu ♪ - You say.

Come on.

♪ Lord you're worthy ♪ ♪ Of the glory ♪ ♪ And the honor ♪ ♪ Hallelu ♪ ♪ Lord you're worthy ♪ ♪ Of the glory and the honor ♪ ♪ Hallelu ♪ ♪ Can't stop praising ♪ ♪ Can't stop praising ♪ ♪ Can't stop dancing ♪ ♪ Can't stop dancing ♪ ♪ Been too good Lord ♪ ♪ Been too good Lord ♪ ♪ Hallelu ♪ ♪ Hallelu ♪ ♪ Can't stop praising ♪ ♪ Can't stop praising ♪ ♪ Can't stop praising ♪ ♪ Can't stop praising ♪ ♪ Can't stop dancing ♪ ♪ Been too good Lord ♪ ♪ Hallelu ♪ ♪ Lord you're worthy ♪ ♪ Yes you're worthy ♪ ♪ You're so worthy ♪ ♪ Hallelu ♪ ♪ Hallelu ♪ ♪ Lord you're worthy ♪ ♪ You're so worthy ♪ ♪ You're so worthy ♪ - Come on.

(lively orchestral music) (lively orchestral music continues) (lively orchestral music continues) (lively orchestral music continues) (all clapping and cheering) - You still hear, I Dream A World.

And Dr.

King talked about a particular dream, right?

And that's a dream we're still trying to implement and see come to fruition even today.

And so with this concert, you visually see it with the orchestra being multicultural, you visually see it with the choir being multicultural.

And then we have the music.

Although everything on this concert is written by an African American composer, there is still the influence of Western European art music throughout the concert.

And so that is what a lot of us don't always talk about.

And so in a place like Ebenezer, we can come and bring that together in music.

We can bring that together by emphasizing Dr.

King's philosophy.

And then we can also do that by the way that we fellowship and worship together.

Anytime I engage in a concert like this, I always want the listener and the audience as a whole to come away feeling inspired, to feeling uplifted, and most importantly, to love one another.

That's what Christianity is all about.

It's all about love.

Love of God, love of yourself, and love of your fellow human beings.

So when we do concerts like this and when we come to the King Celebration, it's really about the beloved community, reminding ourselves that I am you, you are me.

Even though our backgrounds and our pasts might look different, there's actually a lot of similarity in our lived experience.

And so I want people to lean into that.

I want people to not be afraid of that.

And I hope that they walk away from this concert maybe feeling empowered to ask questions.

(gentle orchestral music) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) (gentle orchestral music continues) ♪ Order my steps in Your word dear Lord ♪ ♪ Lead me, guide me everyday ♪ ♪ Send Your anointing, Father I pray ♪ ♪ Order my steps in Your word ♪ ♪ Please, order my steps in Your word ♪ ♪ Order my steps in Your word dear Lord ♪ ♪ Lead me, guide me everyday ♪ ♪ Guide me everyday ♪ ♪ Send Your anointing, Father I pray ♪ ♪ Order my steps in Your word ♪ ♪ Please, order my steps in Your word ♪ ♪ Humbly, I ask Thee to teach me Your will ♪ ♪ While You are working ♪ ♪ Help me be still ♪ ♪ Though Satan is busy ♪ ♪ God is real ♪ ♪ Order my steps in Your word ♪ ♪ Please, order my steps in Your word ♪ ♪ Briddle my tongue, let my words edify ♪ ♪ Let the words of my mouth be acceptable in Thy sight ♪ ♪ Take charge of my thoughts both day and night ♪ ♪ Please, order my steps in Your word ♪ ♪ Please order my steps in Your word ♪ ♪ Worthy ♪ ♪ I want to walk worthy, Jesus ♪ ♪ My calling to fulfill ♪ ♪ Please order my steps ♪ ♪ Lord ♪ ♪ And I'll do Your blessed will ♪ ♪ The world is ever changing ♪ ♪ The world is ever changing ♪ ♪ But God, You remain the same ♪ ♪ Order my steps ♪ ♪ If You order my steps ♪ ♪ Please order my steps ♪ ♪ And I'll praise your name ♪ ♪ I want to walk worthy ♪ ♪ With my left and my right ♪ ♪ With my left and my right ♪ ♪ My calling ♪ ♪ Please order my steps ♪ ♪ And I'll ♪ ♪ I'll do Your blessed will ♪ ♪ The world is ever changing ♪ ♪ The world is ever changing ♪ ♪ But You are still the same ♪ ♪ Please order my steps, God ♪ ♪ I'll praise Your name ♪ ♪ Order my steps in Your word ♪ ♪ In your word ♪ ♪ Order my tongue ♪ ♪ Order my tongue ♪ ♪ In Your word ♪ ♪ In your word ♪ ♪ Guide my feet to you ♪ ♪ Guide my feet ♪ ♪ Guide my feet in your word ♪ ♪ In your word ♪ ♪ Wash my heart ♪ ♪ Show me how to, show me how to ♪ ♪ Show me how to ♪ ♪ Show me how to walk, Jesus ♪ ♪ Show me how to talk, Jesus ♪ ♪ Give me the right words to sing, God ♪ ♪ When I need a brand new song to sing ♪ ♪ Show me how to let ♪ ♪ Your praises ring in Your word ♪ (choir vocalizing) ♪ Order my steps in Your word ♪ ♪ Walk with me, Jesus ♪ ♪ Order my steps ♪ ♪ Say you never leave me ♪ ♪ Order my steps in Your word ♪ ♪ Please, order my steps, Lord ♪ ♪ Order my steps in Your word ♪ ♪ Order my steps in Your word ♪ ♪ In your ♪ ♪ In your word ♪ (audience clapping and cheering) (audience clapping and cheering continues) (dramatic orchestral music) ♪ I want to walk worthy ♪ ♪ I want to walk worthy, God ♪ ♪ I want to walk worthy, God ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ I'm calling ♪ ♪ I'm calling to follow you ♪ ♪ Please order my steps ♪ ♪ Your word ♪ ♪ The world is ever changing ♪ ♪ But You are still the same ♪ ♪ Please order my steps ♪ ♪ I want to walk worthy ♪ ♪ No matter how I feel ♪ ♪ I will keep walking worthy ♪ ♪ I praise your name ♪ ♪ Praise your name ♪ (audience clapping and cheering) (audience clapping and cheering continues) (audience clapping and cheering continues) (audience clapping and cheering continues) (audience clapping and cheering continues) (lively orchestral music) (lively orchestral music continues) (lively orchestral music continues) (lively orchestral music continues) (lively orchestral music continues) (lively orchestral music continues) (lively orchestral music continues) (lively orchestral music continues) (lively orchestral music continues) (lively music)