The annual spring concert of Blue Harmony, Marymount University’s choral group, will feature a tribute to legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday. It’s scheduled for 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 26 at Reinsch Library Auditorium, 2807 North Glebe Road. Admission is free and open to the public. A reception will follow the concert.
“It’s going to be fun,” said Vincent Stovall, Marymount’s director of campus programs and leadership development. “The music will range from popular to gospel and contemporary music. We’ll even have a country song.”
Stovall said the Holiday tribute is in recognition of the 100th year of her birth.
“The way our culture is going, a lot of our legends are being forgotten, and this is a way to keep their contributions alive,” Stovall said.
A poetry reading by Marymount students will introduce the tribute.
Stovall said he tries to expose students to performers with unique styles.
“Billie Holiday didn’t have a wide range,” he said. “She could only hit eight notes, yet within those eight notes she poured out a lot of emotions.”
Stovall serves as one of Blue Harmony’s musical directors and is helping to produce the show. The other musical director is Jarred Tafaro, Marymount’s coordinator of music ministry.
“We’d like to encourage people to come out,” Stovall said. “It’s going to be a great time and the weather is supposed to be awesome.”
