Our Most Recent News:

Orchestra 2001 20th Anniversary Season Celebration

Blanche Burton Lyles, Marian Anderson Historical Society Founder/President was a guest of Ronald Vigue, Executive Director of the Orchestra 2001 concert to celebrate their 20th Anniversary Season. Highlights of concert was Curtis Institute of Music alumnae Marcantonio Barone, pianist and head of the piano department and assistant director of the Bryn Mawr Conservatory of Music as well as teaching piano, keyboard harmony, and chamber music at Swarthmore College; and Elizabeth Pitcairn, famed violin virtuoso and haled as America's most beloved and unique soloists. She is also the owner of the Red Violin, which inspired the Academy Award-winning film, "The Red Violin." which featured actor Samuel L. Jackson.

Conducted by Maestro James Freeman, recipient of the Philadelphia Music Foundation's first award for Achievement in Classical Music. Maestro Freeman was recognized last year by Mayor Nutter's office for his contribution to the cultural life of Philadelphia.  For more information and extended story, contact PAsims@aol.com

Photo 1 - Elizabeth and Ron
Photo 2 - Blanche and Marcantonio
Photo 3 - Blanche and Elizabeth

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See our Marian Anderson Scholar Lis Stevens as winner of a vocal competition in Italy

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70th anniversary of Marian Anderson's historic performance at the Lincoln Memorial Easter Sunday, 1939

Marian Anderson Historical Society invites you to join them to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Marian Anderson's historic performance at the Lincoln Memorial Easter Sunday, 1939. 

WHEN:  Easter Sunday, April 12th, 2009 at 4PM
WHERE:  Tindley Temple UME Church
Rev. Elaine Ayers, Pastor
762 South Broad Street (Broad & Fitzwater)

Featuring the Marian Anderson Scholar/Artists:
Jason Coffey, baritone
Paula Newberry, soprano
Karen Slack, soprano
Elisabeth Stevens, soprano
Joshua Stewart, tenor
Kristin Young, soprano

MARIAN ANDERSON HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC.
Marian Anderson Residence/Museum
762 Marian Anderson Way (South Martin St)
Philadelphia PA 19146-1822
215.732.9505
Blanche Burton-Lyles
Founder/President
Phyllis Sims
Curator,Director/Marketing
www.MarianAnderson.org
email: phyllis@MarianAnderson.org
"Charting the Course of Education Through Music"

THE MARIAN ANDERSON HISTORICAL SOCIETY HOSTS THE FIRST ANNUAL CLASSICAL ICON VOCAL COMPETITION, DINNER AND BALL AT THE RENOWNED FRANKLIN INSTITUTE Click here for program booklet WHAT: The "Classical Icon Vocal Competition, Dinner and Celebrity Ball" will be held in Memory of the late African American Philadelphia native opera singer, Marian Anderson.  Hosted by Marian Anderson Historical Society, the evening will help raise financial resources to advance aspiring  young opera singers and other vocal artists of great promise.  In attendance will be the Honorable Mayor and Mrs. Michael Nutter along with arts patrons and socialites. WHEN: Friday, February 27, 2009, 6:00pm - 10:00pm WHERE: Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, PA 220 N. 20th Street, 20th & Benjamin Franklin Pkwy

Blanche Burton Lyles, Marian Anderson protege, classical pianist and founder of the MA Classical Icon Vocal Competition poses with Karen Slack, soprano and Issachah Savage, tenor, competition 2nd and 3rd prize winners. Event was held at the Franklin Institute and sponsored by PRWT and WURD.

WHO: The seven finalist performing will be judged by a panel of classical artist professionals including Dr. Susan Lyle, Associate Professor of Voice for the Petrie School of Music; Dr. Lloyd Mallory, Conductor; David Perry, Musician/Classical Guitarist; Dr. Christine Anderson, Chair, Voice and Opera Department of Temple University; and Maurizio Barbacini, Principal Conductor Emeritus of the Opera Company Of Philadelphia and Conductor of TURANDOT.

The grand prize Winner will receive $10,000; second prize, $5,000 and third prize $2500. 

SPONSORS: Prestigious Cunningham Piano Company donated the finest Bosendorfer concert Grand piano for the evening.  Other sponsors include the Governors Advisory Commission on African Affairs; WURD-AM Lomax Companies; PRWT Companies, Willie Johnson, President-CEO; and The Prime Rib.  

Proceeds to benefit the programs of the Marian Anderson Historical Society, Inc.

Founder
Blanche Burton-Lyles

Honorary Chair
The Honorable Michael A. Nutter
Mayor, City of Philadelphia

Co-Chairs
Willie Johnson ● Peter Nero ● Dr. Constance Clayton ● Honorable Augusta Clark, Esq.

 Gala Host Committee
Honorable Lynne Abraham ● Enid H. Adler, Esq. ●  Patricia Allen ● Dr. Bernard Anderson
Marcia Sheppherd- Baker ● Honorable Teta Banks ● Honorable Ethel S. Barnett ● Sula Baye, Esq.
Angela Bowie ● Maurice Bray ●  Jonathan Bridges ● Honorable Shirley Dennis ● Joanne DiSanto
Honorable Cynthia Williams Fordham  ● Dr. Mahlene Duckett-Lee ● Susan Gould
Deborah Hampton ● Barbara Johnson  ● Jose Melendez
Honorable Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky ● Jay Meyers, Esq. ● Dr. Sadie L. Mitchell
Dr. Patrick and Evelyn Sample Oates ● Phyllis Sims ● Tamarra Sims
Naomi Satchell Strange ● Stanley Straughter  ● Phil Sumpter  ● Audrey Johnson Thornton
Sonya Toler ● Honorable Thomasine Tynes ● Honorable Anna C. Verna ●  Dr. Bernard C. Watson
Garth Weldon ● Dr. Victoria Yancey ●  Karen T. Young

“Charting the course of education through music”

To view the FINALISTS for the Marian Anderson Classical Icon Vocal Competition, click here.

MAHS  is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and continuing the legacy of the famed contralto and Philadelphia native, Marian Anderson. By operating both the Marian Anderson Residence Museum and Birthplace, our goal is to continue mentoring and providing financial resources to young vocal artists.