Freedom Choir directed by Elizabeth Melvin

Freedom Choir

The Annapolis Jazz & Roots Festival ends on a high note on Sunday, November 16, with afternoon and evening performances. At 3 PM, The Freedom Choir will present “Keep the Flame Alive,” an eclectic program featuring works by American, Canadian, European and South African songwriters. The restorative and enlivening repertoire will include songs that range from contemplative to joyous and rocking.
 

The Freedom Choir is an Annapolis based non-auditioned community choir which is part of the Ubuntu Choir Network, an international organization of community choirs dedicated to bringing the joy of singing to everyone, regardless of musical experience. With a secondary mission of giving back, the choir has raised thousands of dollars for local and national charities through its public concerts.

The Freedom Choir was founded in 2010 by Annie award-winning musician and vocalist Elizabeth Melvin. She is one of our “Hometown Heroes” this year, having left an extraordinary mark on the musical history of the City of Annapolis and the State of Maryland. A graduate of the Community Choir Leadership Training based in Victoria, B.C., Canada, Melvin has led community choirs and taught numerous singing workshops around Maryland for 15 years.

She pursued formal studies in ethnomusicology at University of Maryland Baltimore County and received hands on training and experience from venerated West African and Cuban musicians, deepening her knowledge of authentic instruments, rhythms and traditions rooted in African, Caribbean and Latin American cultures. That study fueled her success as a performer in many popular jazz and world music groups.
 

Among them was jazz fusion ensemble Wooden Hands, a group that also helped launch the careers of other prominent Maryland artists such as Sue Matthews and John E. Starr, Jr. Elizabeth Melvin performed with Senegalese kora master Djimo Kouyate's band before founding her own wildly popular group Mama Jama and co-creating the bands Jambulay and Caribbean Art Jazz Ensemble.
 

Don't miss hearing The Freedom Choir at one of their favorite venues. Lovely St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Eastport is known for its wonderful acoustics, peaceful ambiance and welcoming vibe. 
 

The festival Grand Finale features the Joshua Redman Quartet performing at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts at 7 PM. Visit the venue website for tickets to that event.

This is the fourth year of the Annapolis Jazz & Roots Festival. The organization works with its amazing Venue Partners and volunteers to offer free and modestly priced events for adults and families. All of the artists you enjoy have outstanding international, national or regional reputations. Please consider making a small donation to help us keep funding these public performances. We sincerely thank you for any amount you choose to donate. Enjoy the festival!

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