Willamette to Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.

In honor of the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., Willamette University, Willamette University College of Law and the Multicultural Law Students Association bring Derrick Bell and his presentation of "Gospel Choirs: Psalms of Survival in an Alien Land Called Home."

Inspirational stories and music will fill Smith Auditorium on Friday, Jan. 19, 2001, at 8 p.m. as Bell emphasizes the role music and song have played in African-American culture. Before the majority of African-Americans could read and write, an oral tradition existed that began with the stories and music of slave singers. A gospel choir will accompany Bell's presentation.

This event is free and open to the public; however, tickets are required. General admission tickets will be available starting Monday, Jan. 8 through Mid-Valley Arts Council, 503-364-7474. For more information about the event, contact Audrey Durbin at 503-370-6300 x4334 or Rich Shintaku at 503-370-6265.

As a lawyer, activist, teacher and writer, Bell not only has spoken against civil injustice, he has shown how one person can act against civil injustice. Bell, the first tenured black professor at Harvard Law School, resigned from his position because the school failed to hire women of color on the faculty. Most recently, Bell has served as dean at the University of Oregon Law School. Again, he left his position because the faculty refused to hire an Asian-American woman faculty candidate.

Following the performance, a reception will be held at the Willamette University College of Law with an opportunity for Bell to answer questions. The Multicultural Law Students Association will also be presenting an award for excellence in diversity to a Salem community member who has demonstrated a commitment to diversity.

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Willamette University to Co-host Authors' Day

The Willamette University School of Education will co-host "Young Authors' Day" with the Oregon Writing Project. Over 100 Molalla Elementary fifth graders and their teachers will gather on Willamette's campus on Friday, Jan. 12 for "Young Authors' Day."

The day will feature special guest Kathleen Contreras, author of the Scholastic published Pan Dulce, a book about a Mexican sweet breads baker. The participants will begin the day at 9 a.m. listening to Contreras read her book and describe her experiences as a writer. The reading will be followed by a snack of sweet breads and juice.

The children will then begin a three-stop tour on campus led by Willamette School of Education students. The children will visit College of Liberal Arts Dean Ken Nolley, the Mark O. Hatfield Library and the Hallie Ford Museum of Art.

The students will receive their first college credits, as Dr. Linda Tamura conducts an interactive lecture for young writers. The program will end at 1:00 p.m.

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Willamette Presents An Evening Of Holiday Readings And Carols

Willamette University presents "Christmas in Hudson Hall - A Service of Readings and Carols" on Thursday, Dec. 7 and Friday, Dec. 8 at 8 p.m. in Hudson Hall. Tickets to this event are extremely limited.

This special Christmas tradition combines the Willamette University Male Ensemble, Women's Choir and Chamber Choir in an evening of holiday readings and music.

Only 420 seats will be sold for each evening. General admission tickets are $5. Please call the Willamette Music Department at 503-370-6255 for ticket information.

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Willamette Master Chorus Performs “Magnificence of Christmas” Concert

The Willamette University Master Chorus will perform its holiday concert, "Magnificence of Christmas" on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 17 at 3 p.m. Both concerts will be held in Hudson Hall, located in the Mary Stewart Rogers Music Center.

The Willamette Master Chorus offers the gift of holiday choral music featuring Gregorian Chant, Renaissance Christmas Motets and Contemporary Carols, with Brass and Handbell Choir. Beginning with plainsong and chant, the music selection will move to holiday madrigals in a madrigal dinner setting along with music from Renaissance composers such as Dufay, Josquin, Isaac and Gabrielli. A brass ensemble will join the choir for Daniel Pinkham's well-known "Christmas Cantata" and accompany the chorus and audience singing holiday carols at the end of the concert. The award-winning Handbell Choir from the Tualatin Valley Junior Academy, under the direction of Jason Wells, will be featured in solo pieces and with the chorus.

Admission is free to children 17 and under - Willamette Master Choir's Christmas gift to the community. For ticket information, call 503-370-8055.

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