The 40th Anniversary of Harlem Week was launched
on June 25th with a reception in Avery Fisher Hall at the Lincoln Center for
the Performing Arts. It was an evening of celebration, awards and thrilling announcements
for the summer, followed by the breathtaking Beethoven Piano Concertos at the
New York Philharmonic.
Hundreds of Harlemites joined the Harlem Chamber of Commerce
and co-host the New York Philharmonic to launch the beginning of this dynamic
partnership of two NY cultural institutions. This partnership will add a new element and
layer to Harlem Week’s events such as the involvement of Philharmonic Teaching
Artists sharing expertise at the Harlem Week’s Children Festival this August.
The evening began with a lively mix and mingle and a welcome
from the New York Philharmonic. HARLEM
WEEK, Inc. Chairman Lloyd Williams, and Vice
Chairman Voza Rivers co-hosted the
awards ceremony. Honorees included: New York Amsterdam News (founded in 1909)
and one of HARLEM WEEK’S original co-founders and sponsors; celebrated Broadway star and six time TONY
award winner Audra McDonald; and Apple Bank for Savings, founded in 1863, and
one of HARLEM WEEK’S first sponsors.
Following the awards ceremony Mr. Williams revealed plans
the for the first annual Harlem Music Fest (HMF) that will launch this summer
and will celebrate the music, dance and theatrical events of the ever-expanding
Harlem arts scene. HMF will be a 4-week music festival that will begin in July and
continue through August. Partners include Harlem Summer Stage, New York
Amsterdam News, The New York Daily News, The New York Beacon,
WBLS-FM/WLIB-AM/Hot 97-FM, JazzMobile, the Harlem Arts Alliance, Abyssinian
Jazz Vespers, and Dance Theatre of Harlem to name a few.
It was a vibrant evening, the community paid tribute to
history makers including a special music presentation by OBIE award winning
actor/playwright Daniel Beaty as Paul Robeson in tribute to Billie Holiday
(Audra McDonald), as well as Maya Angelou, Ruby Dee, dedicated Harlem Week partners
and the community members of Harlem who have made this 40th
anniversary possible.
New Heritage Theatre Group and its partners look forward to
all the exciting plans and events that will unfold this summer as we
commemorate this milestone for Harlem.
