Events

Free and open to the public

Learn about the legendary Fisk University Singers with Resonanz, the outreach choir of the Rochester Oratorio Society.

Ogden Farmers Library, Friday Feb 28 at 2 PM
Monroe Branch Library, Thursday, March 6, 7 PM Download Flyer
Arnett Branch Library, Saturday March 22, 12:30 PM Download Flyer
Irondequoit Branch Library, Wednesday, April 2, 7 PM
Mendon Public Library, Saturday April 5, 1 PM

Legendary. That’s how you describe a group of young people, just a few years past being enslaved, who undertake a choir tour to save their brand-new college and end up singing for the Queen of England.

“Freedom’s Journey in Song” tells the story of the first tour of the Fisk University Singers, who became known to the world as the Fisk Jubilee Singers. From a rocky start, they were ultimately wildly successful, not only raising the needed funds but also singing for the highest dignitaries in the US, England, and the Continent. Through narration and song, follow the story of their journey, and hear some of the original spirituals they introduced to the wider world. The program features Resonanz, the outreach choir of the Rochester Oratorio Society, as well as two re-enactors who will bring to life the roles of George White, the first director of the group, and Ella Sheppard, one of its founding members.

Resonanz is a versatile group that sings pop, jazz, Americana, and holiday music in a wide variety of settings, from convention centers to birthday parties to street fairs. They are also known for their educational outreach, bringing programs of social and historical significance to schools and libraries across the region.