This April, The Kennedy Center is sponsoring  Joyful Sounds: Gospel Across America, a 9-day festival celebrating the heritage of Black gospel music.  I am quite excited to see the Clark Sisters on the line-up.  They are one of my ALL-TIME favorite gospel singers.  They are standard as far as I am concerned.  If you want to be more than an observer, folks can join the community-wide Hymn Sing. All you have to do is register.  Most of the performances are free, so come out to hear some soul-stirring, spirit-filled music.

April 18-25

@Kennedy Center

2700 F Street, NW

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SATURDAY, APRIL 17
A Celebration of Gospel Mass Choirs featuring
The Remnant Concert Choir of Mt. Ararat Baptist Church(Pittsburgh, PA)
Trini Lopez Massie, Director
First runner-up, 2009 Verizon “How Sweet the Sound” National Gospel Choir Competition
Millennium Stage, 6 p.m. FREE

SUNDAY, APRIL 18
An Evening Celebrating Gospel’s Contribution to American Culture featuring
Richard Smallwood & Vision
Millennium Stage, 6 p.m. FREE

Opening Festival Concert
featuring
Take 6
Shirley Caesar
Kirk Franklin
Tributes to Gospel Legends
Edwin Hawkins, Walter Hawkins, Andraé Crouch and Albertina Walker
with Richard Smallwood, host
Concert Hall, 8 p.m.
TICKETS FROM $20 LIMITED AVAILABILITY– Get tickets here.
MONDAY, APRIL 19
A Community-wide Hymn Sing
featuring
The Hymn Choir of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church
(Charlotte, NC)
Come be a part of a
4,000-Voice Community Choir**
Millennium Stage, 6 p.m. FREE
**Register yourself, your friends or your choir
by visiting the Hymn Sing.

TUESDAY, APRIL 20
A Celebration of Sacred Steel featuring
The Campbell Brothers
Millennium Stage, 6 p.m. FREE

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21
A Tribute to the Golden Era of Gospel featuring
Mattie Ingraham & the Ingrahamettes
The Seven Sons of Soul
Millennium Stage, 6 p.m. FREE

A Celebration of Sacred Art Songs featuring
Marietta Simpson, mezzo soprano
Terrace Theater, 7:30 p.m.
TICKETS $32 — Get tickets here.
Thursday, April 22

A Celebration of African American Spirituals

featuring
The Fisk University

Jubilee Singers
Millennium Stage, 6 p.m. FREE

Beyond Gospel: Music, Spirituality & the Freedom Struggle

A panel discussion with Dr. Paul Kwamme, Dr. Billy Taylor and Mavis Staples

Family Theater, 7:30 p.m.

TICKETS $15 — Get tickets here.

FRIDAY, APRIL 23

A Celebration of Gospel Jazz and Brass featuring
Todd Ledbetter

Gospel Jazz Quartet
Sweet Heaven Kings

Millennium Stage, 6 p.m. FREE

A Celebration of Gospel-infused Soul featuring
Mavis Staples*

Terrace Theater, 7:30 p.m.

TICKETS $38  –Get tickets here.

SATURDAY, APRIL 24

Harmony & Lead: Gospel Vocal Style
A forum with Richard Smallwood, JJ Hairston and Dr. Cedric Dent

Millennium Stage, 2:00 p.m.

A Celebration of Modern Gospel Expression: Music

& Movement featuring
Nubian Gents + Feminine Fire Gospel Step Teams*

Sat., April 24 @ 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. & 5 p.m.

Sun., April 25 @ 1:30 p.m. & 4 p.m.

Family Theater

A Celebration of Contemporary Gospel Music

Part 1 featuring
WPAS Children of the Gospel Choir
JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise

Millennium Stage, 6 p.m. FREE

A Celebration of African American Sacred Music

National Symphony Orchestra

Joyful Sounds Concert

Nolan Williams, Jr., Artistic Director
Stanley Thurston, Conductor

with Gospel Legend Walter Hawkins
with special guest appearances by Richard Smallwood, Lecresia Campbell, Vanessa Williams, John Stoddart, Duawne Starling & Dennis Sawyers

Concert Hall, 8 p.m.

TICKETS FROM $20
–Get tickets here.

SUNDAY, APRIL 25

A Celebration of Contemporary Gospel, Part 2 featuring
The Clark Sisters

Millennium Stage, 6 p.m. FREE