SAT MAR 28, 2026, 7:30 PM
Music Hall
Buy Tickets
John Morris Russell conductor
Randall Goosby violin
Jacqueline Echols soprano
Rodrick Dixon tenor
Members of the Nouveau Program
Classical Roots Community Choir Jason Alexander Holmes, resident conductor
Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing — James Weldon Johnson
The Roots of Our Song — Raymond Wise
Novelette, Op. 52, No. 4 — Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
In Bright Mansions — Roland Carter
Mvt. I from Concerto in G Major for Violin — Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges and String Orchestra
Total Praise — Richard Smallwood
INTERMISSION
Come Sunday — Edward K. (“Duke”) Ellington
Charles Fold Suite — James Cleveland & Charles Fold
This Too Will Pass
Tell It
May the Lord Bless You Real Good
“Holy Dance” from Four Black American Dances — Carlos Simon
“Caro nome” from Rigoletto — Giuseppe Verdi
“Niamara’s Aria” from Lalovavi — Kevin Day
“Dio! mi potevi scagliar” from Otello — Giuseppe Verdi
“Home” from The Wiz — Charlie Smalls
If My Jesus Wills, I’ll Overcome Someday — Louise Shropshire
Today's ASL Interpreters are Karen Arnold and Laverne Rutledge.
Classical Roots was financially assisted by the Fifth Third Foundation, Digital Access Partner CVG Airport Authority, Concert Sponsor JRH Consultants, Show Sponsor Metro, Associate Sponsor American Red Cross, Greater Cincinnati-Dayton Region and Supporter Sponsor The Voice of Your Customer.
The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra is grateful for the support of the Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund of the Greenacres Foundation and the Nina Browne Parker Trust, and for the thousands of people who give generously to the ArtsWave Community Campaign. This project was supported in part by the Ohio Arts Council, which receives support from the State of Ohio and the National Endowment for the Arts.
The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in-orchestra Steinway piano is made possible in part by the Jacob G. Schmidlapp Trust.
Steinway Pianos, courtesy of Willis Music, is the official piano of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops.
Lift Every Voice and Sing: From the Pews to Music Hall
March & April 2026 Fanfare Magazine
Go through the 25-year evolution of Classical Roots through the voices of choir leaders and community members and celebrate the artistic triumph of an intergenerational organization built on commitment to musical excellence and cultural preservation.
