DW23 - Photos Day 6
Day 6 of Douglass Week 2023 offered a blend of virtual content and vibrant in-person community events, primarily centered in Rochester.
In Rochester, the day was largely dedicated to community engagement and artistic expression. We held a "Family Day Community Event" in the morning, fostering community spirit. This was followed by an art installation & talk by Rochester visual artist Lashonda Davis, which offered a local artistic perspective on themes of freedom and legacy.
The highlight of the day was the "Harmonies of Freedom: Honoring the Douglass Family Legacy Through Music" concert at the historic Hochstein School of Music. This special evening celebrated the Douglass family's connection to Rochester and highlighted Frederick Douglass's ties to Ireland. The show featured a diverse array of talent, including Broadway actors and singers Paul Oakley Stovall (Hamilton), Nikhil Saboo (Mean Girls, Dear Evan Hansen), and Yassmin Alers (Rent, Get on Your Feet, Geva Theatre production of In the Heights), who performed original songs exploring Douglass's Irish travels and pieces from the musical American Prophet. The event also showcased performances by the Dunwoody Dance group, PJ Pennewell of Garth Fagan Dance, and Dr. Jeannie Ma. Guerrero (Eastman School of Music) with a string-quartet composition. Readings and speeches by figures such as Kenneth B. Morris, Jr., Frederick Douglass's great-great-great grandson, and American lawyer and politician HOn. Richard Dollinger further enriched the celebration of the Douglass family legacy.
Video footage from the day will be available HERE soon.
