Joyous Celebration for Black History Month

Adrian Dunn and the Adrian Dunn Singers will be performing this Sunday at St. Luke’s of the Mountains.

By Mary O’KEEFE

The community is invited to St. Luke’s of the Mountains Episcopal Church on Sunday for a special event in celebration of Black History Month.

Adrian Dunn and the Adrian Dunn Singers will be performing at the church with services beginning at 10 a.m.

The artists were brought to the church at the invitation of the Vicar Father Guy Leemhuis.

“I serve as a member on the Program Group for Black Ministry for the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles and after coordinating the event for MLK (Martin Luther King Jr.) [Day] with Bishop Curry a clergy colleague connected me with Adrian who wanted to have the group sing at a church service the morning after their concert at Colburn School of Music and the morning after [their] album drops,” said Leemhuis.

Adrian Dunn Emancipation Act 2 will drop on Saturday and can be found on music apps including Apple Music and Spotify.

Dunn is an accomplished singer, songwriter, and producer who holds a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degree in voice from The Music Conservatory at Roosevelt University with additional musical studies in opera at The Sibelius Academy of Music in Finland. He has sung with the Chicago Symphony Chorus, Grant Park Symphony Chorus, and is a frequent soloist in Handel’s “Messiah.”

He is also a MacArthur grant recipient for his original work “Hopera: A Hip Hop Opera,” and was nominated for best music director from the Black Theater Alliance Awards for his work in that opera.

“St. Luke’s is all about love and the beloved community and this seemed like an excellent t opportunity to kick off Black History Month,” Leemhuis said. “The group takes spirituals and gospel music Adrian has composed to address modern day struggles of the African American community.”

Dunn is the founder of the Black Music Matters advocacy movement organization and the founder of Black Music Experience TV, a streaming service dedicated to the contributions of Black musicians in America.

“[Dunn] has composed songs that honor our past and prophetically convey the hope and call to action for change in our society where all people are valued and honored as children of God,” Leemhuis added.

Since Leemhuis joined St. Luke’s as vicar he has worked to bring the community into the church through a series of outreach events, including recently co-hosting a Hanukkah celebration through the Fire House youth center and Prom Plus.

“It is our hope that we can continue to learn and grow together as a community and to be the love church. We must walk the way of love and in so doing advocate for justice, mercy and compassion for all God’s people as Christ has taught us,” Leemhuis said. “Please join us for this truly historic event.”

The event begins at 10 a.m. at the St. Luke’s of the Mountains Episcopal Church at 2563 Foothill Blvd. The parking lot can be accessed off Cross Street.