40th Annual Festival of Spirituals

Predating the foundation of Cimarron Circuit Opera company by 5 years, The Festival of Spirituals has been a Palm Sunday Norman tradition since 1970.  Developed by the late Thomas and Carol Brice Carey to keep aspects of African-American heritage alive, a selection of new and familiar spirituals are presented by community, student and guest singers.  Our host for the 40th Annual Festival on March 28, 2010, will be First Presbyterian Church of Norman, which has graciously supported Cimarron Opera for 40 years.  

Cimarron Opera is delighted to announce that the guest conductor for the 2010 Festival will be Andrew Marshall.  This year the Festival will feature the OU Chamber Singers along with notable solo performers, and will feature an array of African-American spirituals, and world premiere arrangements of brand new Jamaican spirituals for mixed choir and solo voice accompanied, including music by Jamaican composer Deneil Clarke.

There is no charge for admission to the Festival of Spirituals; it is our gift to the community.  Contributions are always gratefully accepted, and a portion of this year's offering will be donated to Haitian and Chilean relief efforts.