During the month of December, secular holiday songs and religious Christmas pieces are played and performed quite often.
However, the Statesboro Chamber Orchestra will be performing a non-holiday-themed, classical concert on Tuesday, December 6 at 7:30pm. The concert will be at the Whitaker Black Box Theater on 41 West Main Street (as part of the Averitt Center for the Arts).
Dr. Jonathan Aceto Conducts the Statesboro Chamber Orchestra
Dr. Jonathan Aceto conducts the Statesboro Chamber Orchestra, and the chamber orchestra has approximately 20-30 members. In addition, the chamber orchestra only has concerts twice a year – once in the spring and once in the winter. Therefore, it is a rare treat to listen to a performance by them.
Next, given the historical aspects of the selected pieces, the concert should be of interest to classical music aficionados and scholars. Also, the concert will have at least one surprise.
The Statesboro Chamber Orchestra Will Play Historic Pieces Dec. 6
Director Dr. Jonathan Aceto said, “I chose some of my favorites, including a piece by Joseph Bologne, the 'Black Mozart,' and Mussorgsky's ‘Great Gate of Kiev’ from ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’."
According to IndianExpress.com, “French musician Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, the first black classical composer in history, is known to have influenced the famed Austrian, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, earning him the sobriquet, ‘Black Mozart’.”
The piece by Bologne which Aceto has selected will remain a surprise for the concert. In contrast, the piece by Mossorgsky has been revealed for the concert. In comparison, like any piece by Bologne, the piece by Mossorgsky has a rich history.
In fact, according to https://acomusicandart.com.au/year-2-for-students/the-great-gate-of-kiev/, “The Great Gate of Kiev was inspired by a sketch that (an artist) Hartmann made of a huge, monumental gate that he designed to commemorate the fact that the Tzar (king) Alexander the II had survived an attempted assassination attempt. There was a big contest for architects to see who would win the prize for best gate and Hartmann won, but sadly the gate was never actually built.”
The Statesboro Chamber Orchestra is part of Averitt Center for the Arts programming
The Averitt announced the chamber orchestra concert some time ago on Facebook:
“Tis' the season of giving and grinning… We're so grateful we can do both! Coming this December, our esteemed Statesboro Chamber Orchestra is performing live in Whitaker Black Box Theater. Conducted by our own talented music director, Jonathan Aceto, our performers will enchant you with their brilliant melodies played in perfect harmony. Admission is free and this event is open to the public. We aren't stringing you along, come hear for yourself!”
Regarding the free admission, Rachel Elkins, Box Office Manager, said, “There is no need to call ahead and reserve tickets (or seats).”
Whitaker Black Box Theater's namesake has an interesting history
Elkins also said the Whitaker Black Box Theater only gets used once or twice a year. In fact, she said the theater is named for Mical Whitaker who has an interesting history.
According to https://www.averittcenterforthearts.org/mical-whitaker:
“Sixty-one years ago Mical made his theatrical debut as a student at Howard University’s Ira Aldridge Theatre in Lorca’s ‘Blood Wedding’. During a 20-year distinguished career in New York City he founded his own theatre company East River Players, co-founded the Everyman Street Theatre Festival at Lincoln Center, directed the 1979 Black Theatre Festival at Lincoln Center and was Artistic Director of the legendary Richard Allen Center.
On radio, (Mical) produced the nationally syndicated Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee Story Hour. In 1981 he returned to his native Metter, Georgia and began an academic career at Georgia Southern, teaching and acting/directing over 100 productions in 23 years, most notably James Baldwin’s ‘The Amen Corner’, GSU’s first black production. In “retirement” since 2005, he has devoted his energies to the Averitt Center which in 2015 named its black box theatre in his honor."
With ‘Sunshine Boys’ co-director Carol Thompson, (Mical) acted in ‘Driving Miss Daisy’ and ‘The Gin Game’, and directed her in ‘The Glass Menagerie’ and ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.’ He was the founding director of the Statesboro Youth Theatre and curates two on-going events designed especially for the Whitaker Black Box: ONE, an interview-performance series, hosted by co-director Ressie Fuller, spotlighting a single artist, and BEHOLD, HERE COMETH THE DREAMER, annually focusing on the legacy of MLK, Jr. through poetry and the spoken word.
In 2013, he was inducted into the Georgia Theatre Hall of Fame. He is the proud father of Mical Anthony and the grandfather of Messiah, Elijah and Jazzaniah.
