Choral groups, guest speakers to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Wellsboro High School on Monday
WELLSBORO — Justice advocate and Rewritten CEO Ashley M. Wilson, a capella group Pine Pitch, the Wellsboro Men’s and Women’s choirs, and more will join hands to celebrate the life and dreams of Martin Luther King Jr. at 7 p.m. Monday in the Wellsboro Area High School auditorium, 227 Nichols St., Wellsboro.
Donations will be accepted at the door.
Ashley M. Wilson, of Wellsboro, the founder, director and CEO of Rewritten of Tioga County, a nonprofit organization, is an advocate for justice and has dedicated her life’s work to helping others rise above difficult circumstances. She will share her personal story during the event.
The program will open with the national anthem, followed by a welcome greeting from Thomas Putnam. Then, the choirs will combine to perform “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Audience members are encouraged to participate.
Guitarist Chris Eckert will lead in singing “Blowin’ in The Wind,” words and music by Bob Dylan, and “If I Had a Hammer,” words and music by Trini Lopez.
Both were sung during the event at which King made his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.
Molly Cary, accompanied by a pianist, will sing “Beautiful City” (Godspell) with words and music by Stephen Swartz.
The choral groups will also sing individual selections. The Hamilton-Gibson Children and Youth Ensemble, directed by Thomas Putnam with accompaniment by Gary Citro, will perform “Sisi Ni Moja” with words and music by Jacob Narverud; “If Not Now, When?” with words by Pirkei Avot and music by Arielle and Jerome Korman; and “Song for Justice” with text by Charles Anthony Silvestri and music by Kim Andre Arnesen.
Pine Pitch, an a cappella group directed by Karin Knaus, will sing “Man in the Mirror” with words and music by Glen Ballard and Siedah Garrett and arranged by Kirby Shaw; the Wellsboro Men’s Chorus directed by Christina Simonis with accompaniment by Pat Davis will perform “Keep Your Lamps,” arranged by Victor C. Johnson and “Joshua” arranged by Robert Sells; and the Wellsboro Women’s Chorus, directed by Diana Frazier with accompaniment by Judith Smithgall will sing “Thankful” with words and music by Carole Bayer Sager, David Foster and Richard Page and arranged by Mark Hayes and “Freedom” with words and music by Paul McCartney arranged by Kirby Shaw.
First Presbyterian Church Choir, directed and accompanied by Marian Miller will perform “Offertory” with text from Micah 6:6-8 and music by John Ness Beck, and “My Feet Are Tired, But My Soul Is Resting” with words and music by Frances Smith Thomas and arrangement by Shawn Kirchner.
Singing “Inscription of Hope” by Z. Randall Stroop, “The Dream Keeper” by Rollo Dillworth and text from “The Dream Keeper” by Langston Hughes, is the Rock L. Butler Middle School Seventh and Eighth Grade Chorus, directed by Morgan Shaffer with accompaniment by Ashley Christian, a student.
Speakers Barbara Biddison, Gordie Dunlap, Kendra Moises, Kathryn Sheneman and John Bondhus will individually introduce each song with insights about them and then join together to present “The Radical Legacy of Dr. King.”
For more information, call Hamilton-Gibson at 570-724-2079 or email hamgib@gmail.com.



