Inspired by an Atlanta Symphony's musical homage to Martin Luther King Jr. and his accomplishments, Assistant Provost for Diversity Charles Payne is trying to add a new dimension to the traditional MLK remembrance.
Now in its fourth year, the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Concert will feature Ball State choirs, ensembles, professors, students and community choirs.
An African American church choir and students from the Department of Theatre and Dance will also be performing.
Dwandra Lampkin, assistant professor of theater, was in charge of writing and directing the skits, which will be performed by Ball State theater and dance students. This is Lampkin's first experience with the commemorative production.
Payne said he hopes to educate students on the civil rights movement, just as he was when he watched the Atlanta Symphony perform their homage on television.
"It was done in Atlanta, with the Atlanta Symphony, and it was something that I wanted to try and duplicate here at Ball State. So I got with the Director of Music, at the School of Music here, and she asked people if they wanted to participate," Payne said.
All in all, Payne's goal is to further educate students on the civil rights movement.
"Music can be a form of history, so I hope that people will come away with a vision of what the civil rights movement was about, the emotion that was stirred up, and things that inspired people and kept people going," he said.
Payne said the event has done well in the past, and hopes for more of the same this year.
The concert will take place in Sursa Hall tonight at 7:30 p.m. and will last about an hour.
Admission to the concert will be free.
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