An Oak Ridge church will host a free holiday concert in December that will feature Inversion, an Emmy Award-nominated vocal ensemble.
The special concert will be presented by Masskus Productions in cooperation with Oak Valley Baptist Church of Oak Ridge. The concert will be at the church at 194 Hampton Road at 5 p.m. Sunday, December 8, a press release said.
“We feel blessed here in Oak Ridge and are delighted to offer this musical celebration to the community free of charge,” said Pastor Derrick Hammond of Oak Valley Baptist Church. “This is just one way for folks to settle down and relax during this hectic holiday season. We hope everyone will bring friends to enjoy a beautiful Sunday afternoon.”
Under the direction of David Ragland Jr., Inversions was born from a desire to showcase an array of talented friends, the press release said.
“They bring an eclectic vibe to a variety of musical genres,” the press release said.
The vocal ensemble is comprised of classically trained students and alumni of Tennessee State University, Oakwood University, Vanderbilt University, Morehouse College, University of Tennessee, and Union University.
In April 2019, Inversion Vocal Ensemble performed with Brandi Carlile, Marcus Hummon, Ruby Amanfu, and others in “Love On Fire,” a benefit concert for Thistle Farms, the press release said.
In January 2019, Inversion was the feature performers for Nashville Symphony’s annual “Let Freedom Sing” Martin Luther King celebration concert.
In April 2018, Inversion was a feature performer in “Nick Cave FEAT. Nashville” at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. This performance gained Inversion Emmy-award nomination recognition, the press release said.
Back in April 2016, Inversion Vocal Ensemble was requested by the National Civil Rights Museum to sing at their inaugural memorial service for Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. Inversion was requested specifically to sing their rendition of “Precious Lord,” King’s favorite hymn, the press release said. The event was attended by mayors of Memphis and Shelby County, thousands of spectators, and King’s comrade, Rev. Jesse L. Jackson.
Inversion performed as featured artists for the opening of the annual convention of the National Association of Negro Musicians in July 2013. The following November, Cheekwood Museum and Botanical Gardens and the National Museum of African-American Music presented Inversion in concert as the closing act of the Drawing Room Concert Series, to commemorate the work of artist William Edmondson, the press release said.
In 2015, Inversion was presented in concert by The Roland Hayes Committee at the Harris Arts Center, The Summer Hill Heritage Center, and featured in recital with Gail Robinson-Oturu and Roland Carter.
That May, Inversion premiered the concert theatrical, “Frederick Douglass: The Making of a Prophet.” Inversion was chosen for this work by its composer, Grammy-award winning songwriter Marcus Hummon, the press release said.
Later in October of that year, Inversion was selected as the only vocalists to perform on the mainstage of Schermerhorn Symphony Center’s Laura Turner Concert Hall for the Nashville Symphony Free Day of Music, the press release said. In December, Inversion returned to Cheekwood to celebrate the holiday season.
Upcoming engagements include performances with Grammy-nominated Alias Chamber Ensemble and Nashville Ballet. Inversion can be found online at http://www.inversionsings.com/home-2.html.
The December 8 performance in Oak Ridge will showcase the talents of ensemble members along with traditional and holiday favorites, the press release said. Seating at the 5 p.m. performance will be first-come, first-served. The performance is free and open to the public, the press release said.
Visit www.masskus.com to learn more about Masskus Productions.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
You can contact John Huotari, owner and publisher of Oak Ridge Today, at (865) 951-9692 or john.huotari@oakridgetoday.com.
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