January 19 at 5 p.m.

This service in celebration of the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., will feature St. James’s Choirs and the Concert Choir of Norfolk State University, one of the premiere African American ensembles in the country. The choirs will be led by Dr. Harlan Zachary, Director of the NSU choir. Guest organist and conductor for the evensong will be Dr. Carl W. Haywood – preeminent organist, conductor, composer, and editor of the hymnal Lift Every Voice.

The Honorable Roger L. Gregory will read the “I have a dream” speech at our service. Judge Gregory is the first African American appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, which includes Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. He was the RTD 2016 man of the Year.

Along with the 90-student NSU Choir, St. James’s combines its Parish, West Gallery and Youth Choirs for the service to create an assembly of over 150 voices, with a program that spans African American spirituals and songs, hymns from a variety of religious traditions as well as choral music composed by Dr. Haywood, Dr. Whitmire and others. Readings are drawn from the sermons and speeches of Dr. King. The January evensong for Dr. King at St. James’s was started in 2003.