Ritz Chamber Players in all it’s Forms, Through the Power of Music

Art, in all it’s forms, is the common denominator that helps bring people together. The divisive nature of the current climate helped inspire a new Ritz Chamber Players music series designed to unify audiences for the love of music.

Hosted by the Ritz Chamber Players, “We The People” is the group’s 18th mainstage concert season dedicated to creating public conversation centered around such challenging topics as race, religion, gender, and war.

All the main stage concerts are held at 7:30pm at Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church. The performances are free and open to the public. Tickets for all main stage performances can be reserved. Preferred seating is available for $25 per person (www.ritzchamberplayers.org).

As one of the only African-American chamber music groups in the country, The Ritz Chamber Players welcomes distinguished, award-winning African-American musicians who have performed with the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, and the London Symphony. Local audiences will enjoy the talents of the guest artists spanning the African diaspora and bringing a fresh, new energy to the classical music genre. 

On February 6th, the Ritz Chamber Players present “Afro-Ameri-KKK-ania” as the first show of the new year. Since 1865, the KKK has threatened the unity of our country, primarily targeting the voice of our African-American citizens, as well as terrorizing Catholics, Jews, immigrants, and the LGBTQ. This thought-provoking program will explore works that speak to black heritage as well as rising beyond racism and exclusion — both past and present.

The March 19th program entitled “She! Is Silent No More” lifts the veil on the lengthy period in music history during which works composed by women were not performed in public. “She! Is Silent No More” features the inspiring and moving contributions of extraordinary women, including women of color, as part of Women’s History Month.

In its season finale presented May 7th, Ritz Chamber Players explore works written to honor both military service and the lives of those impacted by war and conflict. “Make Love Not War” pays tribute to the American troops currently enduring the longest war in our nation’s history. Such intense times of conflict can also cultivate a powerful artistic response, and “We The People” hopes to create a dialogue that leads toward a better understanding of humanity through the power of music.