The New York City Master Chorale (NYCMC), under the direction of Artistic Director Thea Kano, continues its second season on Saturday, March 29 at 8 PM and Sunday, March 30 at 3 PM at Church of St. Paul the Apostle, Columbus Avenue at 60th Street. Repertoire includes Nicolas Flagellos's The Passion of Martin Luther King and arrangements of traditional spirituals. Soprano Rhea Walker and baritone Elex Lee Vann will join the New York City Master Chorale with pianist Tanya Gabrielian.

Nicolas Flagello's The Passion of Martin Luther King is an emotional oratorio juxtaposing the words of Dr. King with sacred text from the Catholic Church. Born in New York City in 1928, Nicolas Flagello studied at the Manhattan School of Music, joining the faculty immediately upon graduation and remaining there until 1977. As a composer, Flagello held with unswerving conviction to a view of music as a personal medium for emotional and spiritual expression.

The New York City Master Chorale is proud to be presenting a variety of arrangements of spirituals, including many arrangements by the late Moses Hogan. Born in New Orleans in 1957, Hogan was educated at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) and Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio. He also studied at the Julliard School of Music and Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Hogan's contemporary settings of spirituals, original compositions and other works have been revered by audiences and praised by critics including The New York Times and Gramophone magazine. They have become staples in the repertoire professional and amateur choirs throughout the world.

Thea Kano is the founding Artistic Director and conductor of the New York City Master Chorale. She has prepared the Chorale for performances with the Astoria Symphony and the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony. Dr. Kano is also the Associate Conductor of The Washington Chorus, the Assistant Conductor of the Gay Men's Chorus, Washington, DC, and is the Artistic Director of the Capitol Hill Youth Chorus. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting from University of California, Los Angeles.

Founded in 2005, the New York City Master Chorale presents an annual subscription series, performing at Church of St. Paul the Apostle, The Riverside Church, and Alice Tully Hall. The Chorale is noted for its excellent performances of the entire range of the choral repertoire. In addition to its concerts, the Chorale also provides significant education and outreach initiatives to New York City schools and community programs as an integral component of its mission.

Tickets are priced at $25 and $35 (special discounts to season subscribers) and may be purchased by calling The New York City Master Chorale Box Office at (917) 342-6221. Further information about the performance is available online at www.nycmasterchorale.org.