Dr. Sonya Baker | Marian Anderson Scholar and Soprano

Dr. Sonya Baker, Marian Anderson scholar and soprano, will present the lecture/recital “For Thee We Sing: The Historical Implications of Marian Anderson’s 1939 Easter Concert.” This will be a multimedia performance, sponsored by the Wege Foundation, about Black contralto Marian Anderson’s ground-breaking performance, when the Daughters of the American Revolution denied her the right to perform in Constitution Hall in Philadelphia because of her race. Audiences will see visual images shared from the Marian Anderson Collection, hear Anderson’s rendition of the aria she sang that day, and experience live performance of other works from Anderson’s concert including several spirituals and Schubert’s “Ave Maria.” The story is infinitely dramatic – involving issues of racism, patriotism, and the role of the arts in our society. It is also a historical moment which allows us to look at ourselves and the overall impact of the arts today; for in the end, 75,000  people gathered on the Mall in Washington, D.C., to hear this famous contralto. There will be time for Q&A at the close of the program. It is time to celebrate this momentous occasion in American history.