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We Shall Overcome Premiere
May 8, 2021 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
The Urban Voices Project Choir has just finished their latest recording project, an original and uplifting choir arrangement of “We Shall Overcome” and “Lift Every Voice And Sing.” The piece was performed in the context of critical issues of racism, homelessness, and health injustice, with the vision of creating hope and change.
For this special project, individual choir members recorded their parts at a COVID-safe, makeshift recording studio at Wesley’s Corner of Hope clinic, which also serves as a weekly vaccination clinic with additional support from the Department of Health Services COVID Response Team.
We also captured the full choir performing the song with American Sign Language, with training by our Neighborhood Sing community member, Roni Perlut, for the music video. The UVP Performance Choir recorded the “We Shall Overcome” music video on 6th & Gladys in partnership with the Hippie Kitchen, an oasis in the heart of Skid Row, and next to the Regal Hotel. ASL choreography and masks allowed us to “sing together” and strengthen the reverence in the lyrics of these iconic anthems.
Join us for the premiere of “We Shall Overcome” on May 8 at 6:00pm PT. This event, held on Zoom and Facebook Live, will feature conversations between choir members, the video production team, and community members discussing health and racial justice and vaccination, as well as the world premiere of the music video and single!
“We Shall Overcome” is in tribute to Lawrence Jones, our beloved accompanist, who passed away this year and who contributed to the original arrangement of this song.