The Chorale celebrates Langston Hughes and Margaret Bonds in an epic collaboration with Dr. Andrew Smith and the Sam Bonds Chorale

Hold Fast to Dreams

The Poetry of Langston Hughes in Song

December 6, 7:30 p.m.

Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G St., NW, Washington, DC

 Join the Georgetown Chorale in celebrating the 125th birthday of beloved poet Langston Hughes with music setting his poetry in song. Our 2025 Winter Concert, presented in collaboration with the Sam Bonds Chorale, honors Hughes’ vision of pursuing a better world through art, challenging the sources of harshness and pain and working to be among the world’s “beauty-makers.” The program includes work directly inspired by the jazz idiom of the Harlem Renaissance era as well as more recent work reflecting other 20th century genres: each offering harmonies and melodic lines that grew out of the music in Hughes’ words. Anchored by The Ballad of the Brown King, a cantata composed by Margaret Bonds in honor of the African king, Balthazar, one of the three biblical Magi, the program will feature soloists from the Sam Bonds Chorale and be accompanied by piano and chamber orchestra.

Featured Works

The Ballad of the Brown King, Margaret Bonds

The Dream Keeper, Gary Davison

In Time of Silver Rain, Andre Thomas

Three By Langston, Ricky Ian Gordon

Give Us Our Peace, Rollo Dilworth

Lotus Blossom, Billy Strayhorn, arranged by Andrew Smith

Additional selections performed by The Sam Bonds Chorale