(PRINCETON, NJ) -- WWFM The Classical Network, located on Mercer County Community College’s West Windsor Campus, will present “Deep River: The Art of the Spiritual,” featuring the Washington-based PostClassical Ensemble and bass-baritone Keven Deas in concert Friday, February 16 at 8:00pm at Princeton Theological Seminary’s Miller Chapel.

The concert will be broadcast live as part of WWFM’s PostClassical concert broadcast series and will be hosted by WWFM host David Osenberg as well as PostClassical’s co-founders, Music Director Angel Gil-Ordonez and music historian Joseph Horowitz.

The program will focus on the work of Henry Thacker “Harry” Burleigh, an African American classical composer, arranger and professional singer. A student of Antonín Dvořák, Burleigh introduced the composer to African American spirituals and helped introduce them to a broader audience through his own arrangements and compositions. The program will include performances of Burleigh’s work, including his arrangements of “Deep River,” as well as a discussion of Burleigh’s work and influences.

“We are celebrating Harry Burleigh, a forgotten hero of American music,” said Horowitz.

The performance will also feature the Elmwood Concert Singers, prepared by their founder and artistic director Vinroy D. Brown, Jr.

“As our country celebrates African American history this month we’re delighted to highlight the music of Henry Thacker Burleigh with our friends from PostClassical Ensemble,” said WWFM Station Manager Alice Weiss. “The rich voice and artistry of internationally renowned American bass-baritone, Kevin Deas, will bring this music to life beautifully. A wonderful and inspiring musical experience is in store for all who attend.”

Founded in 2003, PostClassical Ensemble is the Ensemble-in-Residence at the Washington National Cathedral. The ensemble is dedicated to rethinking the concert experience, championing works that Gil-Ordonez and Horowitz believe deserve greater advocacy, and its programs often integrate theater, dance and film.

This concert is free and open to the public.  Due to the live broadcast nature of this concert, the audience is requested to be in their seats no later than 7:50pm.

WWFM The Classical Network is a full time classical music network serving New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania and portions of Delaware and Maryland on 89.1 FM, and in the Philadelphia market via HD radio.  The station also streams live around the world through wwfm.org. In the fall of 2008, the station launched JazzOn2, a 24-hour jazz station available on its HD channel 2 and JazzOn2.org. WWFM The Classical Network was the recipient of the 2014 ASCAP Foundation Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Award for Broadcasting.  

PHOTO: Internationally renowned American bass-baritone Kevin Deas will be the featured soloist during a live broadcast of “Deep River: The Art of the Spiritual” on WWFM The Classical Network