Composer Margaret Bonds (Photo – Pasadena Chorale)
There’s no better time than Black History Month to get acquainted with powerful Black American composers, and there’s no easier or more enjoyable way than by listening to the moving, accessible songs offered by the Pasadena Chorale on Wednesday, February 25 at 7:30 pm at First United Methodist Church Pasadena.
By Melanie Hooks
While the concert is free, reservations are required due to limited seating and can be made at pasadenachorale.org.
The concert, entitled I BELIEVE, honors Black History Month through music that explores faith, hope, and social justice. I BELIEVE celebrates the profound musical legacy of two Black American composers.
The program opens with original spiritual arrangements by Michal Dawson Connor, an Altadena-based composer whose settings of “My Lord, What a Morning” and “There Is a Balm in Gilead” draw on deep traditions of resilience, devotion, and communal strength.
The concert culminates in Margaret Bonds’ “Credo,” a work of conviction and hope based on the poem by W.E.B. DuBois. With a bold vision of social justice and belief in humanity’s shared responsibility, “Credo” stands as a moving artistic statement that remains deeply relevant today.
Together, these works offer an evening of spiritual reflection and musical storytelling—honoring a rich cultural heritage while affirming the enduring power of belief.
I BELIEVE Pasadena Chorale Concert Wednesday, February 25 7:30 pm Location First United Methodist Church 500 E Colorado Blvd Pasadena, CA 91101
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