A great voice that brings an audience to its feet after every song is rare. That’s Valerie Francis, whose range of expression in music is astounding. Her voice fused with a children's chorus, orchestra backdrop and dancers made July 4 spectacular.
On the Fourth of July from across races, cultures and religions people gathered at Trinity Episcopalian Church in New Orleans to listen to a choir of approximately 80 children, selected at random, without audition, from the State of Louisiana to perform in a first-of-a-kind performance of patriotic songs.
The children were trained by Valerie Francis, Ph.D., whose background in music and education allowed her to take untrained voices and bring them to virtuoso performance in a matter of weeks. These children ranged in age from early elementary through ninth grade. The blending of these voices made folks in the audience believe they had been auditioned and specifically chosen. But instead they came from all walks of life, with an interest in music to be trained for a very special July 4 presentation.
One of the songs performed by Francis and the childrens chorus was originally sung by Paul Robeson more than 70 years ago. “Ballad for Americans” is a complex piece, but the orchestra, children and Francis brought the song back to life in a special way, as it was originally performed by Robeson and a male chorus, the chorus now replaced by the voices of children.
Del Forsloff
DJ Carol Forsloff gave the "occasion," the story of how the concert came about. She had suggested "Ballad for Americans" to Valerie Francis more than two years earlier, and Francis adapted the song with children. The concert was attended by dignitaries from New Orleans. Forsloff also took other pictures and covered the event for DJ and local readers.
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Dr. Valerie Francis, who is classically trained and educated in the music of America’s history, together with the childrens chorus of many races and cultures,celebrated, honored and gave thanks for the greatness of our country, its diversity and its opportunities. The “Ballad for Americans,” which Paul Robeson performed so eloquently years ago, was of particular consequence because the words and music so resoundingly express the greatness of our nation in its diversity. This was the first time the song has been performed by a female voice with a chorus of children.
Carol Forsloff
Valerie Francis is shown here with Wilfred Delphin at another concert at Cane River. It is being used to accompany this story as it shows the musicians together in similar attire at St. Augustine's Church at Cane River near Natchitoches.
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Valerie Francis and her chorus of children were joined by Jean Montes, Director of Orchestral Studies at Loyola University of New Orleans and Artistic Director of the Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestra, Dr. Wilfred Delphin, world acclaimed pianist and Artist in Residence/Professor of Music at Xavier University of Louisiana and dancers from renowned Lula Elzy New Orleans Dance Theatre who performed modern ballet to some of the country’s best loved patriotic music.
Carol Forsloff
Dancers performed modern ballet to renditions from patriotic music on July 4 at Trinity Episcopal Church
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The concert was part of the Patriotic Project, an interactive, music empowerment program with the goal of providing youth an opportunity to be exposed to the musical arts. The program was made possible in part through support by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism through the Office of Cultural Development with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. The City of New Orleans, Arts and Entertainment Department of the Office of Mayor Ray Nagin also contributed to the program.
Approximately 400 to 500 people were on hand for the event. It is anticipated the children will be part of an ongoing state choir that will perform on different occasions, including, it is hoped, next year’s Fourth of July celebration.
Del Forsloff
Here is a portion of the audience that filled Trinity Episcopal Church in New Orleans on the 4th of July, thrilling to the voices of a children's chorus, trained by Valerie Francis, one of the great singers of Louisiana
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