When Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in 1968, communities struggled to give voice to the profound emotions of that moment in history. The Choral Arts Society of Washington sought to honor Dr. King in song. On the first anniversary of his assassination, CASW gave the premiere performance of a work it had commissioned in his honor, entitled Once: In Memoriam Martin Luther King, Jr. The following year, CASW joined with several church choirs in a concert in memory of Dr. King. Annual concerts involving Choral Arts and other groups continued through 1976.
In 1989, when a national holiday in Dr. King’s honor was established, CASW, in partnership with the Howard University Choir, reinstated the memorial concert tradition as the Annual Choral Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Since then, many of the city’s finest musical organizations have joined the Society each January to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life. The Tribute brings together individuals from all parts of the community to remember Dr. King’s ideals of non-violence, racial equality, and peace.
Each year, The Choral Arts Society honors an individual who exemplifies the ideals for which Dr. King fought with the annual Humanitarian Award. Those who receive the award have been active in civil rights and/or have demonstrated and contributed to the spirit of humanity through their own actions and/or have honored and spread the message of nonviolent struggle for civil rights put forth by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Awardees include:
Dr. Dorothy Height – 2004
John Lewis – 2005
Marian Wright Edelman – 2006
Harris Wofford – 2007
Julian Bond - 2008
The Annual Choral Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, now in its 20th year, has become an established Washington tradition. As part of the 20th Anniversary celebrations, The Choral Arts Society has collaborated with Dalmatian Press to produce a new publication entitled Voices: Reflections on an American Icon through Words and Song. This beautiful gift set features a full length CD and vivid photographs. To purchase the book and CD, click here. In conjunction with this project, a Teacher’s Guide has been developed. To learn more about this project, click here.
This Tribute, a memoriam to the life and ideals of Dr. King, is funded by the generous donations of individual and corporate donors in the local community. Each sponsor's name is printed in the CASW Playbill throughout the 2007-2008 season. Sponsorship levels are grouped by individual and corporate sponsorship as follows:
Donate Online to the
20th Annual Choral Tribute to
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Special thanks to the 2007 Tribute Title Sponsors:
The Chrysler Foundation, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Freddie Mac Foundation, Newman's Own Foundation, and Wal-mart
 
Additional major supported provided by American Airlines, Daimler,
DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, GEICO, Scion,
and the Wachovia Foundation
Corporate Levels of Sponsorship
Title Sponsor ($25,000)
Recognition during the Tribute, opportunity for remarks
Eight box seats
Invitation for 8 to pre-concert reception
20 tickets for community distribution
Playbill listing
Platinum Sponsor ($15,000)
Six box seats
Invitation for 6 to pre-concert reception
15 tickets for community distribution
Playbill listing
Gold Sponsor ($10,000)
Four box seats
Invitation for 4 to pre-concert reception
10 tickets for community distribution
Playbill listing
Silver Sponsor ($5,000)
Two box seats
Invitation for 2 to pre-concert reception
10 tickets for community distribution
Playbill listing
Bronze Sponsor ($2,500)
Four parterre box seats
Invitation for 2 to pre-concert reception
Playbill listing
Founder ($1,000)
Four prime orchestra seats
Invitation for 2 to pre-concert reception
Playbill listing
Individual Levels of Sponsorship
Title Sponsor ($25,000)
Recognition during the Tribute, opportunity for remarks
Eight box seats
Invitation for 8 to pre-concert reception
20 tickets for community distribution
Playbill listing
Platinum Sponsor ($15,000)
Six box seats
Invitation for 6 to pre-concert reception
15 tickets for community distribution
Playbill listing
Gold Sponsor ($10,000)
Four box seats
Invitation for 4 to pre-concert reception
10 tickets for community distribution
Playbill listing
Silver Sponsor ($5,000)
Two box seats
Invitation for 2 to pre-concert reception
10 tickets for community distribution
Playbill listing
Bronze Sponsor ($2,500)
Four parterre box seats
Invitation for 2 to pre-concert reception
Playbill listing
Founder ($1,000)
Four prime orchestra seats
Invitation for 2 to pre-concert reception
Playbill listing
Benefactor ($500)
Two Parterre Box Tickets
Playbill Listing
Patron ($250)
Four Mid-Orchestra Tickets
Playbill Listing
Donor ($100)
Two Rear Orchestra Tickets
Playbill Listing
Friend ($25)
Playbill Listing
All contributors will be listed in each CASW
Playbill throughout the 2007-2008 season.
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