The MLK Celebration Chorus

2027 Rehearsal Information

About the Chorus

The Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Chorus is a volunteer community chorus assembled each year since 1989 to sing as part of The Cleveland Orchestra's annual MLK Celebration Concert. Bringing together singers from across Northeast Ohio, the Chorus lifts its collective voices in affirmation of Dr. King's vision of justice, peace, and human harmony. First assembled by Alvin Parris, the Chorus has been prepared and assembled by William Henry Caldwell for the past decade.

Membership each year in the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Chorus is open to singers from throughout Northeast Ohio, with a requirement to attend all rehearsals in January. There is no audition requirement for this chorus and we welcome singers with all levels of experience!

Registration Information

Registration for the 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Chorus closed. Registration for the 2027 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Chorus will open in Fall 2027.

Please reach out to education@clevelandorchestra.com if you would like to be notified when registration reopens.

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Experience the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Chorus

Interested in joining the chorus? Hear from our members directly about the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Chorus experience—an ensemble deeply rooted in Cleveland’s history and the enduring legacy of Dr. King. From singers who remember Dr. King’s visits to our city to multi-generational families who have shared the stage for decades, the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Chorus celebrates music that unites us all.

MLK Chorus Music Director

Dr. William Henry Caldwell is a distinguished conductor and educator who has prepared choruses for premier ensembles like the Cincinnati May Festival and the Dayton Philharmonic. Since 2003, he has served as the resident conductor of The Cleveland Orchestra’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Chorus, and he was recently honored with the 2025 Governor’s Award for the Arts in Ohio for his lifelong community impact.

A former chairman of the Department of Fine and Performing Arts at Central State University, Dr. Caldwell directed the university chorus for over 30 years. He currently serves as the artistic director of the Vocal Arts Mastery Program and the music director at the historic First Baptist Church of Dayton, continuing his long-standing commitment to mentorship and musical excellence.

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