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An Historical Sketch: This organization was founded in 1996 to ensure cultural preservation of a uniquely American genre of sacred music, and to provide a program of college tuition grant awards, music education and personal development mentorship for senior high school pupils. It began as essentially an all-volunteer operation, with first a Task Force, then a Board of Directors undertaking all the events and projects related to this program. The Community Foundation of Central Florida served as an incubator for the startup of the agency. A rigorous program of competition in the singing of arranged Negro spiritual songs was the vehicle by which students could earn tuition assistance grants for college. The first competition was held in 1997, with awards presented during the first Annual Gala in February of the same year. At the time of its founding the organization served a population limited to nine counties in East Central Florida. Within three years of its inception, the program had come to the attention of the Florida Vocal Association, the Florida Music Educators Association, and officials of the State of Florida.  It was noted that this program demanded the highest level of technical achievement for the high school solo voice, and repeated requests were made by educators and parents beyond Central Florida that it be come more widely available. The GRADY-RAYAM PRIZE In Sacred Music competition subsequently became a statewide program in 2000.  In 2006 the Foundation launched a GRADY-RAYAM PRIZE In Sacred Music competition for the Mid-South region of the United States, including Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.  2008 saw further expansion to the New England district (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont) and the Capital district (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia), with a Southeast district (Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina) added in 2010. Today, the agency has an operating budget slightly in excess of $300,000, a diverse and committed Board of Directors, three full-time employees, one part-time bookkeeping consultant, an auxiliary volunteer organization, endowed funding vehicles in place for future stabilization, an alumni class of 49 awardees, and a national reputation for excellence in program delivery.

Friday 8^th March 2013 – Women’s Voices Luncheon

11:30 a.m.
Location: Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Resorts
Keynote: Women Of The World: The Difference We Make

Amb. Harriet L. Elam-Thomas, (Dir. of UCF Diplomacy Program)
Sponsor: Women Caring For Women (Dr. Maura F. McGrane M.D.)

Open Seating - $75.00

Corporate Partner Table - $1,800 - reserved seating for eight luncheon guests.

Saturday 9^th March 2013 – Gala Evening
(Black Tie, Formal, Dinner, Awards Program, Song Recital)
6:00 p.m.
Location: The Peabody Orlando (Special overnight room rates available)
Feature Artists:

baritone Robert Honeysucker
composer/arranger Donal Fox
Honoree: “NS”SF National Spokesperson Marquita Lister

Sponsors: BrightHouse Networks + Joseph & Evelyn Cleveland

Individual Seating – $200.00

QuarterNote Purchase – $600.00 Shared Table – Two Guests

HalfNote Purchase – $1200.00 Shared Table – Four Guests

WholeNote Purchase – $2400.00 Full Table – Eight Guests

Monday 11^th March 2013 - Golf Tournament
(Eighteen Holes, Shotgun Start)
9:00 a.m. Start
Golf Location: Keene’s Point Golden Bear Club
Celebrity Players: Jim Thorpe + Nic Anderson + Bo Outlaw
Sponsors: Orlando Magic + GreenbergTraurig + Atlantic Justice

Individual Player -  $400.00

Foursome - $1,500.00

Couples Super Package

“The Negro Spirituals are … the most beautiful expression of human experience born this side of the seas.”

(Jefferson Cleveland & William McClain,  A Historical Account of the Negro Spiritual in the hymnal SONGS OF ZION. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1981)

There is a body of American sacred songs commonly called Negro spirituals.  These songs express – both in their words and in the way they are performed musically – the deep religious feelings of the African-American people.  They are an important part of the American cultural heritage, and are now recognized globally as anthems to liberty that can feed the deepest aspirations of the human soul.

The great majority of Negro spirituals are very old.  In a lot of cases the tunes and rhythms are so ancient we can trace them back to Africa, the homeland of Black Americans who were brought to the United States long ago in slavery.  The English words of the earliest known Negro spirituals are taken from passages of the Holy Bible, using scriptural themes to tell about the grief and trials of slaves, and to voice their hope for deliverance or rest.  Later on, elements of the natural world as well as events from the communal and personal religious experiences of African-Americans provided more material for the texts of songs.

The spirituals are a library of sorts. By studying them, it is possible to gain a wealth of information and insight into the historical, social, and religious development of African slaves and their descendants who have journeyed within the United States over the decades and centuries. Negro spirituals have had their home in cotton fields, work camps, churches, meeting rooms, and recital halls. They contributed to the birth of various types of popular music such as gospel, jazz and blues, to the financial support of Black colleges and other institutions, to the folklore of social struggles including the civil rights movement, and to the uplift of outstanding African-American musicians and singers worldwide. The opera community is historically linked to the promotion of such artists.

Clearly, what gives Negro spiritual songs their power is the way in which they invite the human voice to add contour, rhythm, texture, melody, tempo, variation, and emotional depth to words. The African-American experience resonates within and all through them.  They have been preserved over time, and developed/redeveloped both in a distinctive choral form and in a characteristic style arranged for performance by the non-amplified solo voice with piano accompaniment.  In the United States we cannot seem to get enough of Negro spirituals; contemporary composers, arrangers and vocalists continue to explore and enliven this unique genre.  The “Negro Spiritual” Scholarship Foundation is dedicated to carrying on this tradition by preserving and developing sacred music in the same richly idiomatic vein as part of a heritage which is rooted in the American South.

Special Thanks to the following companies and individuals for their support of this years World-Premiere Weekend Events.  Below you will find photos for the events.

Partners

Bright House Networks

&

Prestige Ford

have extended major funding in support of these events.

Underwriters

Mr. & Mrs. Craig Bethel
|Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Cleveland
Cigar Aficionado
GreenbergTraurig
Dorothy T. Johnson
Dr. Maura McGrane
Orlando Magic

have extended underwriting support for these events.

Patrons

Bank United
Danny & Robin Berenberg
Broad and Cassel
Carlton Fields, P.A.
HealthCentral
Mr. & Mrs. Todd Miller
Junie Monroe
Mr. & Mrs. Jonathan M. Perry
Phoenix Home Care
Robert Half

are corporate purchase patrons for these events.

Vendors

Connie Sterling Photo Gallery
Frame It Unlimited
Ginger Boutique of Winter Park
The Golden Bear Club at Keene’s Pointe
Jacque Photo
Lavonne Angrum (Hatmaker)
Lee James Florist
MBS Jewelry
Mike’s Print Shop
The Peabody Orlando
The Portofino Bay Hotel
Raining Roses Producitons
Steinway Piano Galleries
Wheels2Wings

have contributed services in support of these events.

Thank you + Thank you + Thank you + Thank you

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

‘Suitable Airs’ XIV

Thank you!  Thank you! Thank you!

What a great event we had on Sunday 30th of September at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church. We especially want to thank the following supporters, without whom our success would not have been possible:

Bright House Networks

A+ Markem Tutoring
Barbara Greene
Broad and Cassel
BSA – Central Florida Council
Carolyn LimQuee
City of Orlando
Costa DeVault
Craig W. Bethel
Dorothy T. Johnson
GiftCounsel.com
Joseph Cleveland
Junie C. Monroe
Lamont Jackson
Kenneth Williams
Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church
Max S. Watzman
Mayflower Retirement Community
Michael P. Sampson & Jake
Priscilla Robinson
Synitra Hutcherson
Todd Miller
ZeroChaos

Thank you again for your support and patronage!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jacksonville Recital

Special Thanks to Arlington Congregation Church for hosting this wonderful event and all that attended.
Below you will find audio and photos for the evening.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

16th Annual World-Premiere Gala

Special Thanks to the following companies and individuals for their support of this years World-Premiere Gala.  Below you will find photos for the evening.

Partners

Atlantic Justice Law Group

&

Bright House Networks

have extended major funding in support of this event.

Underwriters

Mr. & Mrs. Craig Bethel
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Cleveland
Dr. Maura McGrane
ZeroChaos

have extended underwriting support for this event.

Patrons

Aetna
Bank of America
Bank United
BSA – Central Florida Council #083
Broad and Cassel
CareAmerica
Carlton Fields, P.A.
City Of Orlando
Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church
TD Bank

are corporate purchase patrons for this event.

Friends

Jacque Photo
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
Mike’s Print Shop
Steinway Piano Galleries

have contributed services in support of this event.

Thank you + Thank you + Thank you + Thank you

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Timothy Miller Recital

Here for your enjoyment is a sampling of music from the November 6th song recital at the residence of Joseph and Evelyn Cleveland. It features one selection by 2011 GRADY-RAYAM PRIZE Winner Frank Humphrey, followed by a group of Negro spirituals sung by tenor Timothy Miller.

‘Suitable Airs’ XIII

Thank you!  Thank you! Thank you!

What a great event we had on Sunday 2nd of October at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church. We especially want to thank the following supporters, without whom our success would not have been possible:

Orlando Magic
Care America
United Arts of Central Florida

Bank of America
Barbara Greene
Broad and Cassel
BSA – Central Florida Council
C. Andrew Coomes
Care America
Carolyn LimQuee
Charles W Davis Jr
Christopher Wilkins
City of Orlando
Costa DeVault
Craig W. Bethel
Deede Sharpe & John Parker
Dennis L Wesley
Dorothy T. Johnson
Evan Allen
John B. Soebbing
Joseph Cleveland
Junie C. Monroe
Lamont Jackson
Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church
Marquita Lister
Max S. Watzman
Mayflower Retirement Community
Michael P. Sampson
Millicent Barimo
Parimal Maniar
Phyllis Wesley
Sazi Construction, Inc
Steven Brint

Thank you again for your support and patronage!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

15th Annual World-Premiere Gala

Underwriting Sponsors
The following have extended major gifts to assist in underwriting this event:

Mr. & Mrs. Craig Bethel
Bright House Networks
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Cleveland

Corporate & Individual Patrons
The following are corporate purchase patrons for this gala event:

Bank of America
Bright House Networks
Broad and Cassel
CareAmerica
Carlton Fields, P.A.
City Of Orlando
Darden Restaurants
Foley & Lardner
Eunice Roberts
Health Central
JCB Construction
Junie Monroe
Kenneth Airy
Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church
M&S Enterprises
Select Performance
SunTrust
ZeroChaos

Gala Friends
The following sponsoring individuals and corporations have
contributed funding or services directly in support of this evening’s World-Premiere event:

Dorothy T. Johnson Guild
Central Florida Framing
Community Foundation of Central Florida
Jacque Photo
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
Olive Garden
Peabody  Orlando
Steinway Piano Galleries

Thank you + Thank you + Thank you + Thank you

Here is the Music Player. You need to installl flash player to show this cool thing!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

‘Suitable Airs’ XII

Thank you!  Thank you! Thank you!

What a great event we had on Sunday 3rd of October at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church. We especially want to thank the following supporters, without whom our success would not have been possible:

Orlando Magic

Care America
Health Central
United Arts of Central Florida

Bank of America
Craig & Suzie Bethel
BROAD & CASSEL
Joseph & Evelyn Cleveland
City of Orlando
Darden Restaurants
JCB Construction
John & Rita Lowndes Family Fund
M&S Enterprises of Orlando
Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church
Dr. Evan Allen & Denise Johnson-Allen
Jean Butler
Dorothy T. Johnson
Audrey Reicherts
Junior C. Thrower
Dr. Max S. Watzman
Karen Wesley
Maestro Christopher Wilkins
Dorothy T. Johnson Guild
E-Z Rent-A-Car, Inc
Jewish Family Services of Greater Orlando
THE MAYFLOWER
Scot Aurelius with MOORE, STEPHENS, LOVELACE
Sazi Construction, Inc.
Trinity Preparatory School

Thank you again for your support and patronage!!!

]]> http://www.negrospiritual.org/news-showcase/feed 0 http://www.negrospiritual.org/now-playing http://www.negrospiritual.org/now-playing#comments Wed, 19 Jan 2011 14:58:46 +0000 NSSF http://www.negrospiritual.org/?p=818

Captured singing Roland Carter’s arrangement of the spiritual Is There Anybody Here? is Ann Marie McPhail — a true soprano of the South.  Ms. McPhail will present a private recital for special guests of our Foundation on Sunday 4th November during a ‘by invitation only’  event.  Please contact us at 407.841.NSSF (6773) to find out how you can be included in this very special gathering.

You can help by enrolling in our annual Funding Friend program. Visit our donations page to enroll and pay immediately using a credit/debit card. To pay by check please print out and mail in this pdf: Funding Friend Membership.pdf The Foundation is a 501(c) 3 non-profit agency, so your membership gift will be fully tax-deductible where allowed by law. Each Funding Friend will receive a free recording of music from our ‘Suitable Airs’ benefit concert.

Vocalists-on-Tour

The young singers who win a GRADY-RAYAM PRIZE become ambassadors for the “Negro Spiritual” Scholarship Foundation’s mission, and dedicate long hours to learning, studying, practicing, and performing on our behalf.  Proud as we are of their accomplishments, we are delighted whenever others can also experience and appreciate such extraordinary talent. Our touring program allows us to present our vocalists to audiences large and small in communities everywhere. They have made appearances in private homes, for convention or conference events, before civic groups, in church settings, for school programs, and with symphonies and choruses on concert stages. Presenting a GRADY-RAYAM PRIZE vocalist is one sure way to enhance your special gathering or event. To inquire about arranging for a tour appearance please contact our Music & Education Director at ewashington@negrospiritual.org.

The 2nd Sabbath/Sunday Spirituals Program

The “Negro Spiritual” Scholarship Foundation is working to secure the place of spirituals in our worship life while offering both educational and performance resources to member congregations. Our 2nd Sabbath/Sunday Spirituals program is very simple: Liturgical music planners at our member churches should include one Negro spiritual or more in the order of service on the second Sabbath or Sunday of each month, provided the scriptural references or liturgical themes make it appropriate to do so. We can assist you by supplying lists of titles and arrangements for solo and ensemble singing, by sharing information and suggestions about music that is appropriate for special times and occasions, by holding workshops with your musicians, or even making a visit to your congregation on occasion.

To print an application please click the pdf to the right.      2ndsabbath/sunday.pdf

Speakers/Presenters Bureau

The place of the Negro spiritual song in the history of America and in world culture is a topic of great fascination to many. Moving through time from the African continent to slavery’s cabins, fields and plantation houses, from church sanctuaries to the choir rooms of schools, from sing-ins at freedom marches to recitals on concert stages, the spiritual has brought along with it rich stories of the African-American experience. Speakers from our organization are available to share insight about the impact of this cultural and musical phenomenon with all audiences, using live or recorded music, memorable dialogue and helpful print materials. To inquire about arranging for a speaker/presenter please contact Rudolph Cleare at rucleare@negrospiritual.org.

You May:

Donate Items….
- Copy Machine (with two-sided capability)
- Electronic Stapler (industrial grade)
Sheet Music
- Arranged Spirituals (All Composers)
- Art Songs (Black Composers)
- Sacred Anthems (American Composers)
- Master Choruses (All Composers)
Audio Recordings (LP or CD)
- Arranged Spirituals (All Artists)

Underwrite Needs….
Work Stations (5 Computers with Monitors)

Volunteer Time/Service….
Board Membership
Clerical/Data Entry Help
Event Support (Artist Transportation, Meal Service etc.)
Competition Support (Student Monitor, Assistant to Judges/Accompanists etc.)
Mentoring Program Coordinator (This is an Internship possibility)

Please download, print and fill out an In-Kind Donation Form then
contact us directly via info@negrospiritual.org or by calling 407/877-NSSF(6773)
to arrange pick-up or delivery of items you wish to contribute.