In honor of Black History Month, the Detroit Public Library’s main branch will celebrate the 67th annual E. Azalia Hackley Concert, presented by Comerica Bank on Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. The event will feature a performance by soprano Nicole Greenridge.
Established in 1943, the concert honors the memory of Madame E. Azalia Hackley, a music educator, concert singer and choral director devoted to the musical education of African-Americans in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Hackley Collection of Negro Music, Dance and Drama at the Detroit Public Library is a research archive of international significance. Its holdings include original scores, plays, recordings, photographs and other materials that document the contributions of Black performing artists to the world. Since 1943, its mission has been to collect, preserve and share materials on African-American artists and others throughout the African Diaspora.
“African-American contributions to the arts are remarkable in their cultural influence on American culture,” said Jo Anne Mondowney, executive director of the Detroit Public Library. “We are honored that Comerica, for the ninth year, is joining the Detroit Public Library in celebrating the achievements of African-Americans in the performing arts as part of the library’s Black History Month festivities.”
The concert celebrates Hackley’s legacy as well as that of past African-American composers and musicians and annually features performers from classical, jazz, spiritual, folk ballads and blues musical genres.
Greenidge, originally from Portland, Ore., received her master’s in voice and specialist degree in voice from the University of Michigan and has performed numerous times with the U of M Opera Theatre.
The concert is $15 for general admission. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 313-481-1400 or The Friends Office at 313-481-1357. The Detroit Public Library’s main branch is located at 5201 Woodward Ave.
Additional concert sponsors include Miller Canfield, Munder Capital and ABM Janitorial.
