Alma Mater

Reunion Weekend 2007 is May 18th - 20th

Saturday, May 19, 2007

3:30 - 4:00pm
Williams Hall

Reflections on Music Education Today

Donnell Patterson ’82, Music Education
While deemed valuable, music education faces many challenges. Join Donnell Patterson as he shares stories that have transpired throughout his various careers in music education and reveals the inspiration that drives him to continue to educate young people today.

4:30 - 6:00pm
Williams Halls

Open Sing with Donnell Patterson ’82, Music Education

Don’t be shy! Join Donnell Patterson as he leads NEC alumni, students, and friends in this community-friendly open sing. Selections will include music of the oral/rote tradition of African American sacred music, spirituals and gospel as well as the music of NEC’s own Daniel Pinkham ’93, Honorary Degree.

All are welcome!

Music will be provided. Please indicate your voice part on the registration form.

Donnell plays for Deval

Music Director Donnell Patterson Plays at Service on Morning of Deval Patrick Inauguration

Belmont Hill Director of Music Donnell Patterson received quite an honor recently when he was asked to play at the Interfaith Service on the morning of the inauguration of Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. Members of Mr. Patterson’s church had recommended him for the honor, which came as quite a surprise to him.

The service took place at the Old South Meeting House in Boston. “Leaders from many different faiths attended the service,” Mr. Patterson said, “and each of them contributed.” Mr. Patterson, an accomplished pianist, played solo during an opening prelude, and played on songs that followed in the service, including “God of the Ages With Sure Command,” “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and the closing number, “America the Beautiful.” Mr. Patterson was kind enough to play “America the Beautiful,” again on video for visitors to the Belmont Hill website. (Please click on icon. Depending on internet service, may take a minute or more to load. Requires QuickTime.)

Date: 1/8/2007

Donnell and Friends

B-Flats Six-day visit to Greece

B-Flats Forge Bonds in Concert Tour of Greece

In a six-day visit to Greece completed on March 16, Belmont Hill's select chorus, the B-Flats, under the direction of Donnell L. Patterson, performed for over 1,500 people at four secondary schools in Athens and Delphi, including Athens College and the Music High School. Their polished and spirited concerts earned them warm receptions at each of the schools and led to friendly and welcoming interchange with the Greek students who heard them sing. In the words of a grateful school administrator at Delphi, "Their embracing and sharing of the universal language of music has brought us all together."

In between concerts, B-Flats members took advantage of opportunities to visit the ancient sanctuary, Temple of Apollo and museum at Delphi and to ascend the Acropolis in Athens.

B-Flats Six-day visit to Greece

Rediscovering Jesus – In Our Most Challenging Times
The Rev. Dr. Thomas L. Stiers
02/25/07
First Sunday Of Lent: Bible Sunday

Hebrew Bible Lesson :
Deuteronomy 26 : 1 - 11

Gospel Lesson :
Luke 4 : 1 - 13

Choral Prelude :
Marvelous - arr. Donnell L. Patterson
I Have a Dream - arr. Donnell L. Patterson
Total Praise - arr. Richard Smallwood
Glorious - arr. Martha Munnuzzi

Anthem :
This Train - arr. Emily Crocker

Offertory Anthem :
A City Called Heaven - arr. Leonard de Paur

Postlude :
Toccata - Eugene Gigout

Donnell and Friends

January 27, 2005

New England Conservatory Presents 26th Annual Thomas A. Dorsey Gospel Jubilee, February 19-20, 2005

NEC’s 200-Voice Millennium Gospel Choir Featured at Sunday Afternoon Concert in NEC’s Jordan Hall

It may be dark and cold outside, but inside the musicians will be celebrating the light of the spirit and the warmth of love at New England Conservatory’s 26th Annual Thomas A. Dorsey Gospel Jubilee, February 19-20, 2005. Over two days and three concerts, voices will ring out in NEC’s Jordan Hall and Roxbury’s Eliot Church, praising God in musical selections drawn from the deepest rural traditions to the youngest urban expressions.

Founded in the year 2000, the NEC Millennium Gospel Choir was created to give praise and prayerful welcome to the coming of a new age. The 200 members, drawn from church choirs throughout the greater Boston area, were individually selected because of their superior dedication, vocal technique, range, and commitment to gospel music.

During its debut year, the choir shared the Jordan Hall stage with Richard Smallwood as part of NEC’s 21st Annual Thomas A. Dorsey Gospel Jubilee. The Boston Globe was captivated: “Always, the power of the choir was palpable, and its ability to sound reverent, even tender, was riveting.”

The Millennium Choir is ministered to and directed by an ensemble of preeminent ministers of music/choir directors at churches across the city. Each musical director is a recipient of NEC’s prestigious Gospel Music Award. The directors are: Min. Freda Battle, James A. Early, Herb Jones, Renese King, Dennis Montgomery III, Donnell Patterson, George W. Russell, Jr., Dennis Slaughter, and Hobert S. Yates. Choir coordinators are Patricia Dance and Donnell Patterson.

Sponsored by New England Conservatory, the Thomas A. Dorsey Gospel Jubilee is a project of NEC’s Community Collaborations Thomas A. Dorsey Gospel Jubilee Planning Committee and GNE Productions: Freda Battle, Patricia Dance (GNE), James A. Early, Herb Jones, Renese King, Dennis Montgomery III, Donnell L. Patterson (GNE), Dennis L. Slaughter, and Hobert S. Yates. Calvin Hicks is NEC’s Director of Community Collaborations.

The schedule of performances follows:

New England Conservatory Gospel Jubilee
February 19-20, 2005

Saturday, February 19, 7pm
NEC’s Jordan Hall

Freda Battle and the Temple Worshippers
NEC Community Gospel Choir
Voices of Unity
George W. Russell Jr.
Children of the Light Dance Ministry, St. Paul AME Church
Just 4 Praize

Sunday, February 20, 3pm
NEC's Jordan Hall

New England Conservatory's 200-voice Millennium Gospel Choir
NEC String Ensemble
Renese King, soloist
Musical directors: Patricia Dance, James A. Early, Evelyn Lee Jones, Renese King, Dennis Montgomery III, Donnell L. Patterson, George W. Russell Jr., Dennis L. Slaughter, Hobert S. Yates

Frederick Hayes Dance Company, adult and children's companies
Phillips Academy Gospel Choir, Hobert S. Yates, director
Northeastern University Gospel Choir, Jonathan Singleton, director
George W. Russell Jr. Trio with spoken word artist Robyn Rease
New England Gospel Ensemble directed by pianist James A. Early