Concert to honor African American influence on music

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    LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Tickets are now on sale for a public concert organized by the University of Louisville School of Music to honor the African American influence on classical music.

    Imani Winds, a New York-based wind quintet bridging African, Latin American and American musical styles, will perform “Rhythm and Song: The Influence of the African Diaspora on Classical Music,” Feb. 11 at 8 p.m. in Margaret Comstock Concert Hall.

    The quintet, founded by Louisville native Valerie Coleman, was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2006. Coleman plays flute with the group.

    The concert, part of UofL’s annual Black History Month celebration, is offered through the music school’s 2013 African American Music Heritage Institute, an initiative created 17 years ago to help promote cultural diversity, said institute founder Jerry Tolson, a music education and jazz studies professor.

    Tickets are $5 for members of the general public and free for UofL students and children 10 and younger. They can be bought at the door or in advance by calling 502-852-6907.

    The institute also has arranged for Imani Winds to perform a separate concert for middle and high school students Feb. 20 at 10 a.m. Students who attend that concert will be encouraged to attend college, a goal shared by the city’s 55,000 Degrees initiative, Tolson said.

    For more information on the institute, call Tolson at 502-852-6972.