The Willis Patterson Our Own Thing Chorale, committed to the preservation and performance of old spirituals and traditional contemporary choral compositions written or arranged by African-American composers and musicians, performs from 12:10-1 p.m. May 23 in the University Hospital Main Lobby.
Named for its founder and director Willis Patterson, an Ann Arbor native and U-M professor emeritus, the chorale has performed for more than 30 years throughout Michigan and beyond. The group also raises funds for the Our Own Thing Instructional Program.
Patterson appeared as King Balthazar on NBC-TV in its production of Menotti’s opera “Amal and the Night Visitors.” He was a Fulbright Fellow and a winner of the Marian Anderson Award for young singers. Patterson has served as president of the National Association of Negro Musicians and as executive secretary of the National Black Music Caucus.
This concert is part of Grief Awareness Week at the U-M Health System. For more information, go to bit.ly/Z8BCIB.
