Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Project Unity announce Together We Sing

JUNE 15, 2022, AT 7:30PM, MORTON H. MEYERSON SYMPHONY CENTER

Proceeds from this inspiring gospel and classical music collaboration will benefit Project Unity

Evening will honor legendary gospel artist Richard Smallwood

Dallas, Texas (March 30, 2022) – The Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO) and Project Unity today announce Together We Sing, a musical fundraising event that blends gospel and classical music. This incredible night of inspiration will feature the Dallas Symphony Orchestra along with a 200-voice multi-ethnic, multi-faith choir comprised of choruses from more than 20 religions and faith organizations as well as performances by top gospel artists. The event will raise funds for Project Unity’s signature community programs. Tickets for the performance start at $39 and are available now at dallassymphony.org.

Project Unity is pleased to announce its corporate sponsors and co-chairs from the Dallas business and philanthropy community for this year’s signature fundraiser, including:

  • Arcilia Acosta, President and CEO at CARCON Industries and Construction and Chair Elect of the Dallas Citizens Council
  • Effie Dennison, Executive Vice President at Texas Capital Bank 
  • Dr. Glyne A. Griffith II, Senior Manager of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at SiriusXM/Pandora/Stitcher
  • Connie O’Neill, distinguished civic leader serving on several prominent local Boards; and 
  • Sanjiv Yajnik, President of Financial Services at Capital One, Chair of Collin County Business Alliance and previous Dallas Symphony Association Chair of the Board of Governors

Other sponsors for the event include Haynes and Boone, Texas Instruments Foundation, First United Bank, The Hoglund Foundation and Catalyst Health Network.

Together We Sing will bring legendary GRAMMY® nominated gospel artist Richard Smallwood to Dallas. Smallwood has spent over four decades as one of the most popular inspirational artists in the music business. The Washington Post hails, “Smallwood has done what no other gospel artist arguably has done as successfully: blend gospel with classical music.” His music has been performed by artists including Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Yolanda Adams and Chaka Khan, and he has performed for three Presidents, including accompanying opera legend Leontyne Price at a White House Christmas celebration.

This evening of celebration will also present the inaugural Together We Awards. Project Unity has developed this honor to recognize champions who are working tirelessly to create new paths to confront and dismantle racism. The honorees will be announced at the performance.

Together We Sing will benefit Dallas-based non-profit Project Unity, a collaborative effort of programming and events hosted in partnership with segments of the Dallas community including faith, business, civic, philanthropic, grassroots and government entities. Project Unity and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra have collaborated in multiple events, including Gospel Goes Classical in 20 and 2018 and a Unity Concert presented at the Meyerson Symphony Center in 2020 that honored those who lost their lives to racial violence and injustice.

“We are very excited to partner again with the DSO and have the opportunity to bring performers and audience members of all backgrounds together to promote unity,” said Richie Butler, Founder of Project Unity. “The event of inspiration and unity will lead us into the week of Juneteenth, a national holiday that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans, as well as celebrate National Black Music Month. I can’t think of a better way to move forward in our mission of togetherness than through music.”

“We are proud to collaborate with Project Unity as they continue their mission to strengthen the community and build equity, diversity and inclusion,” said Kim Noltemy, Ross Perot President & CEO of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. “We welcome everyone to the Meyerson Symphony Center to experience this amazing evening celebrating Richard Smallwood, and we are thrilled to be able to join with Project Unity to raise money for their cause.”

ABOUT PROJECT UNITY
Project Unity is a collaborative movement among Dallas-area religious, business, civic, philanthropic, grassroots and government organizations, based on the faith-driven belief that what unites us is greater than what divides us. Founded by Richie Butler, Project Unity’s mission includes dialogue and community-building events, education, and empowerment with the theme Together We. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube. 

ABOUT THE DALLAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra, under the leadership of Music Director Fabio Luisi, presents world-class orchestral music at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, one of the world’s top-rated concert halls. As the largest performing arts organization in the Southwest, the DSO is committed to inspiring the broadest possible audience with distinctive classical programs, inventive pops concerts and innovative multi-media presentations. In fulfilling its commitment to the community, the orchestra reaches more than 243,000 adults and children annually through performances, educational programs and community outreach initiatives. During the pandemic, the Dallas Symphony was one of a few major U.S. orchestras to present socially distanced concerts with live audiences throughout the 2020/21 Season. Furthermore, the orchestra offered more than 200 outdoor chamber concerts in neighborhoods throughout the Metroplex during that time.

The DSO continued online music lessons to more than 300 students as part of its Young Strings and Kim Noltemy Young Musicians programs and increased its online dissemination of concerts through a newly designed website and on social media. The DSO has a tradition dating back to 1900 and is a cornerstone of the unique, 118-acre Arts District in Downtown Dallas that is home to multiple performing arts venues, museums and parks – the largest district of its kind in the nation. The DSO is supported, in part, by funds from the Office of Arts & Culture, City of Dallas.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Denise McGovern | Vice President of Communications & Media | DSO
d.mcgovern@dalsym.com | 214.718.7094 Sidney Hopkins | Communications & Media Manager | DSO
s.hopkins@dalsym.com | 214.871.4024