Marian Anderson Historical Society to Mark Reopening with Gala

The Marian Anderson Museum is on the horizon of completing its historic repair and restoration project of the museum and historical landmark after the disastrous flood that it suffered.  To officially reopen the Marian Anderson Museum, the Marian Anderson Historical Society is planning a reopening week of events starting from October 27th, 2024, and concluding with a celebration gala event at the historic Wanamaker buildings Crystal Tea Ballroom on November 3rd 2024.    The museum invites the public to join in these special events that support the Marian Anderson Museum and Historical Society’s reopening of events-which includes the official Ribbon Cutting Museum Reopening and the Reopening Gala Program.

For more information, interviews and press inquiries, please contact Miss Jillian Patricia Pirtle, Executive Director and CEO of the museum at 215-779-4219 or at marianandersonmuseum@gmail.com.

The legendary contralto Marian Anderson performed a wide range of music, from opera to spirituals with renowned orchestras in major concert and recital venues throughout the United States and Europe between 1925 and 1965. Anderson was an important figure in the struggle for African American artists to overcome racial prejudice in the United States during the mid-twentieth century. In 1939, during the period of racial segregation, the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) refused to allow Anderson to sing to an integrated audience in Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. The incident placed Anderson in the spotlight of the international community on a level unusual for a classical musician.

A native of Petersburg, VA, Patrick holds a BM in Vocal Performance from Virginia State University and a MM in Church Music from Shenandoah Conservatory. Formerly the Performing Arts Columnist for Washington Life Magazine, he currently is a freelance writer, publishing articles for several noted publications and organizations, including The Washington Post, Early Music America, Classical Music Voice North America, The Afro-American Newspaper, Prince George’s Suite Magazine, CBS Washington, Examiner.com and Washington Classical Review. He holds membership in the Music Critics Association of North America, National Association of Negro Musicians, Inc., American Choral Directors’ Association, Association of Anglican Musicians, a former member of the Shenandoah University Alumni Board of Directors, a member of the Shenandoah University Black Alumni Network, a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and a member of the Sigma Zeta Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America.  As an alumnus of Shenandoah, he was named to the Dean’s Circle of the Shenandoah Conservatory Advisory Board.  He enters his 7th year as Organist/Choirmaster at Saint John’s Episcopal Church, Zion Parish in Beltsville, MD and is the host of “Across the Arts” both a live and virtual media platform covering the performing arts.  Visit http://patrickdmccoy.com and follow him on Facebook and Twitter @PatrickDMcCoy, IG: PDM06. and subscribe to “Across the Arts” on YouTube.