An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
HomeMultimediaNewsArticle Display






A.F. Strings and Ellington School Celebrate Black History Month

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Cleveland Chandler
  • Air Force Strings
Washington, D.C. --  Washington, DC--The Air Force String Orchestra joined forces with the Duke Ellington School for the Arts and the combined choirs from the Metropolitan AME Church on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014. The concert took place at the historic Metropolitan AME Church on 1518 M St N.W., Washington, D.C., where icons of black history such as Frederick Douglass and Paul Lawrence Dunbar spoke and worshiped. Featured on this program were Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's "Four Novelettes" and "Onaway! Awake, beloved" from his oratorio "Hiawatha," as well as William Grant Still's "Danzas de Panama" for string orchestra. Traditional spirituals were also featured, with orchestrations arranged by Master Sgt. John Bliss especially for this occasion. Sharing the podium for the evening's concert were 1st Lt. Shanti Nolan, officer in charge of the Air Force Strings, Dr. Steven Allen, director of the Duke Ellington Chamber Singers, and Dr. Lester Green, director of Music at Metropolitan AME Church.

Both the church and the Duke Ellington School for the Arts are prominent figures in Washington, D.C., history and African-American culture. The Metropolitan A.M.E. Church is shrouded in the unique history of the parent African Methodist Episcopal denomination. Founded in 1838, it is the oldest A.M.E. Church in Washington, DC. The church represents the 1870s merger of two A.M.E. congregations, Israel Bethel (1821) and Union Bethel (1838), a stop on the Underground Railroad. The name "Metropolitan" was officially designated and recognized by the general A.M.E. Church in 1872.

A native of Washington, D.C., Duke Ellington's prominence as a musician emerged in the 1940s and continued throughout his lifetime. Established in 1974, The Duke Ellington School of the Arts has a long tradition of the study and performance of classical choral music, starting 40 years ago with the inception of the school. The vocal music program was then revised in 2012 to include the chamber singers. Under the direction of Dr. Steven M. Allen, composer, conductor and ethnomusicologist, the singers are made up of upper classmen, maintaining the tradition of the classical art form, expressed by the performance of traditional choral literature as well as Spirituals, and new music by emerging contemporary composers.

In addition to making wonderful music, this kind of outreach is crucial for recruitment and positive military image to the civilian community. Said Dr. Green, "We [were] ecstatic to be able to celebrate Founder's Day with such an array of talent! When the opportunity presented itself to work with the Air Force Band, I knew that the partnership would produce some amazing and uplifting results." Green explained that, "working with the exceptional talent from the Duke Ellington School, and the support from the Air Force Band, has made this dream a reality."

Attending the evening's performance were the secretary of the Air Force, The Honorable Mrs. Deborah L. James; Col. William Knight, the commander of 11th Wing and Joint Base Andrews; and Col. Larry H. Lang, the commander of The U.S. Air Force Band. Mrs. James had visited The Air Force Band earlier that week during a tour of Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. Upon hearing about the Band's school and community outreach program, AIM (Advanced Innovation Through Music) and about the upcoming Black History Month concert, she was thrilled by the Band's outreach to the civilian community-at-large and excited to attend the upcoming concert, even on such short notice.

Please continue to visit our Facebook page and webpage to stay on top of current performances and collaborations both within the schools and your community!