[Maestro Darrold V. Hunt]
AfriClassical.com and UrbanPhilharmonic.org have exchanged links for nearly as long as our respective websites have been around. Darrold Hunt is Founder and President of The Urban Philharmonic Society of Washington, D.C. Its Facebook page is DC-Urban-Philharmonic.
Today Darrold Hunt signed our Guest Book, saying “Thanks for all the work.” Jeffrey James Arts Consulting introduces The Urban Philharmonic Society:
The Urban Philharmonic Society is a nonprofit organization that provides classical music to Washington DC communities whose access has been restricted by the racial or economic realities of American culture. The Society presents music of many cultures in the belief that enjoyment of music crosses the boundaries of culture and helps to reduce ethnic and racial fragmentation.
For more than thirty years, the Urban Philharmonic Society has provided creative and original musical experiences for a wide cross section of the people of Greater Washington, regardless of ethnic roots, economic status or educational achievement. The Society is a working model of musical and social harmony, offering musical performances at the highest levels of excellence.
DARROLD V. HUNT, Conductor and Music Director
Darrold Hunt, of whom Leonard Bernstein wrote, "His natural talent is considerable", is the Conductor and Music Director of the Urban Philharmonic Orchestra. This orchestra of professional musicians, which includes the Urban Philharmonic Virtuosi, presents concert series throughout the greater Washington area featuring the music of ethnic minorities as well as music from traditional symphonic literature. Of this ensemble, Mark Carrington of the Washington Post has written, "The truth is, conductor Darrold Hunt has hit a seam of gold with the Urban Philharmonic Orchestra. He has an ensemble that plays splendidly together, that ekes beauty out of the familiar..."
Darrold Hunt also serves as Artistic director for the Urban Philharmonic Society, which he founded in 1970 to bring classical music to minority and other underserved parts of the community. The goal of the Society has been to address the problem of classical music being restricted to people because of racial or economic factors. The Society has presented programs in churches, playgrounds, and other inner city locations as well as the Kennedy Center. In his capacity as Artistic Director Mr. Hunt directs the Society's orchestral programs as well as the Urban Philharmonic Recital Series and the Paul Robeson Vocal Competition.
From a family of musicians, Darrold Hunt grew up singing with them in churches and community centers throughout the Northeast. In 1963 Mr. Hunt won a fellowship to study at Tanglewood. This event marked the adult phase of his professional career, which included a national tour with The Norman Luboff Choir as well as concerts and recordings with such luminaries as Greg Smith and Roger Wagner.
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