The Dessoff Choirs, under the direction of Malcolm J. Merriweather, will present a program that highlights both its rich history and a cantata by Florence Price.

This special concert is scheduled for February 20, 2025, at James Chapel, Union Theological Seminary.

The first part of the evening will pay tribute to Margarete Dessoff, the choir’s founder, and her leadership of women’s choruses. The performance will feature Schubert’s Psalm 23 and Brahms’ Vier Gesänge für Frauenchor, which she conducted with her choirs in Germany. The program will also include Strauss’s “Zueignung” and Schumann’s “Widmung.”

Additionally, the choir will perform a newly edited version of Florence Price’s “Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight.”

In a statement, Malcolm J. Merriweather remarked, “Presenting Florence Price’s Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight alongside works first performed and promoted by Margarete Dessoff connects two extraordinary legacies: Dessoff’s groundbreaking support for choral music and Florence Price’s significant contribution to American music. This program honors the boldness and vision of two women who transformed the musical world of their era.”