Candlelight listening party at the Oak Hill Cemetery Renwick Chapel in Georgetown for the new Mississippi Records release: Souvenirs by Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru hosted by Baby Alcatraz and the Oak Hill Cemetery Preservation Foundation. Doors at 5:30pm, Music at 6:30pm. Event is free but capacity is limited, so registration is required. Register here.
In lieu of a ticket fee, donations to the Emahoy Tsege Mariam Foundation can be made here. The Emahoy Tsege Mariam Music Foundation provides music education to children in underserved communities through music scholarships, camps, and other programs.
Souvenirs is an archival release capturing rare vocal performances recorded in the late 1970’s and early 80’s amid political turmoil in Ethiopa. The Addis-Abba born nun, composer and musician used her music to give back to her community. The money she made from albums and concerts went to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, orphanages and others who were displaced by war at home and abroad. She began writing music in the 1940’s and continued composing until her death last March just before her 100th birthday. Last November the Kennedy Center honored her with the program Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru:100 Years of a Brilliant Composer. You can watch the film of this performance online. You can preview her music or purchase a record online here — but if you are like us, consider waiting for your first full listen of the entire release until this special night in the chapel.
