Choral Arts MLK Tribute Concert!

The Choral Arts Society and the Washington Performing Arts Gospel Choirs had the packed Kennedy Center Concert Hall clapping and singing along in a musical tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

Alternately rousing and moving, Living the Dream…Singing the Dream had songs by Sam Cooke and Curtis Mayfield, spirituals and psalms, which had the audience on its feet for If I Can Help Somebody and A Change Is Gonna Come.

Equal Justice Initiative founder Bryan Stevenson received the 2016 Humanitarian Award. In his inspirational talk, he said there is a soundtrack of justice, and the evening's beautiful music should inspire us to fulfill four missions: increase proximity to injustice, change the narrative about racial differences, stay hopeful, and be willing to do uncomfortable things.

Children's Defense Fund founder Marian Wright Edelman, right, a previous recipient of the Humanitarian Award, presented it to Bryan Stevenson. She's with Marriott board member Mary Bush.

Prior to the concert, we joined a reception hosted by Faith and Politics Institute chairman Rob Liberatore, here with civil rights attorney, author and Humanitarian Award recipient Bryan Stevenson, and Choral Arts executive director Debra Kraft.  

Guests enjoyed an open bar and delicious buffet of appetizers. Here, Raben Group's Robert Raben joins Dr. Sharon Malone and Federal Capital Habeus Project's Ruth Friedman. 

Choral Arts Chairman Nicholas Smith, his wife, Deborah Smith, Board Member and singer Anne Keiser, and singer Doug Lapp. 

CQ Roll Call's David Hawkings and his wife, Democracy Fund's Betsy Hawkings, surround The Faith and Politics Institute's Nelson Watkins. 

Supporters Teddi Marshall and her husband, Thurgood Marshall Jr., join GW Professor Patricia McGinnis and her husband, National Academy of Medicine's Michael McGinnis.