To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the seminal events of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center (ASC) is developing and producing original programs for September 2013 to engage the community through the healing power of the arts.
 |
| Yotam Haber |
At 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, Birmingham native and Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame Inductee Eric Essix will perform songs from his landmark 20th recording “Evolution,” a musical diary that examines Birmingham’s progress. A guitarist with intimate personal, family and community connections to the subject matter, Essix has produced and recorded songs that have a direct connection to the Civil Rights Movement for more than a decade.
At 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, the ASC will present the world premiere of a new work co-commissioned by the ASC and philanthropist Tom Blount. The work, by composer Yotam Haber, is titled “A More Convenient Season,” a line taken from Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” It will be performed by the Alabama Symphony Orchestra with guest conductor Damon Gupton and the 16th Street Baptist Church youth choir.
 |
| Eric Essix |
Tickets for “Evolution” are $38.50. Tickets for “A More Convenient Season” are $62.50, $51.50 and $39.50, with a special dinner package available. A discounted ticket package is available by phone for patrons who desire to attend both concerts. ASC members, subscribers and patrons may purchase tickets now.
As an institution committed to service, excellence, diversity and community involvement, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is a proud partner with the City of Birmingham in 50 Years Forward, the ongoing 50th anniversary commemoration of the seminal events of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement. UAB is joining with others to mark this enduring legacy in a way that looks to the future – to sharing new knowledge that benefits society, to advancing the cause of human rights while educating tomorrow’s leaders and to improving quality of life for all. Learn more at www.uab.edu/50yearsforward.