The organ department of the Peabody Conservatory is pleased to present Marvin Mills, organ, and Marlissa Hudson, soprano, in a concert on Sunday, February 18th at 3:00pm. The Spiritual Bach: A Connection Across Space and Time provides a moving musical experience juxtaposing the organ works of J.S. Bach and Negro spirituals. Both genres of music have a deep connection to the love of God at their core, which fuels them with meaning beyond the music on the page and provides a common depth of sentiment – a spiritual connection. In order to bring their commonalities closer, the program pairs pieces of similar moods and rhythmic or melodic ideas.

American soprano Marlissa Hudson has been described as a “superb lyric coloratura” (St. Louis PostDispatch). Marlissa’s 2017 season included several debuts – at Carnegie Hall as the soprano soloist in Kirke Mechem’s Songs of the Slave, Carmina Burana with the National Philharmonic, and in Brahms’ Requiem with the North Carolina Master Chorale. Recognized as an international concert performer, Marlissa has been featured in Bulgaria and Paraguay, and has collaborated in the U.S. with such esteemed organizations as the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Pops Orchestra, Vocal Essence, the 92nd Street Y, and members of the Arianna Quartet. Marlissa received her
formal training at Duke University and the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, earning awards for music at both schools.

Marvin Mills has performed throughout the United States, including three national AGO conventions. In the spring of 1992 he performed the complete organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach in a weekly series of fourteen programs. He has served as University Organist at Howard University, music director of The National Spiritual Ensemble and is organist at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Kensington, MD and a vocal coach/staff
pianist at Morgan State University. Frequent guest artist with The Ritz Chamber Players and MasterSingers of Wilmington, he has been keyboard artist/assistant conductor for the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival since 2000. Recital appearances include the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage and Kimmel Center Verizon Hall. A prize-winning composer, his Four Spirituals for Denyce Graves has been performed throughout the country at colleges and universities by aspiring singers.

The concert will take place in Griswold Hall, located on the second floor of the Peabody Conservatory, which is located at 1 East Mount Vernon Place, Baltimore, MD 21202. There is no admission fee. Street parking is available, as well as in the Peabody Garage at 606 Saint Paul Street.

For more information, contact Peabody organ faculty member Dr. Daniel Aune.