Audience members gathered in Paul Hall on January 16 for Juilliard's 18th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. This year's performance honored not only the life and work of Dr. King, but also paid tribute to Rosa Parks, the woman credited with launching the American civil rights movement by refusing to yield her seat on an Alabama bus. Poems about Ms. Parks (who died on October 24, 2005, at age 92) by Rita Dove, former poet laureate of the United States, and excerpts from several of Dr. King's inspiring speeches (read by drama students Erica Peeples and Seth Numrich, respectively) were incorporated throughout the evening. The celebration's director, Vocal Arts alumnus James Martin, also participated by opening the performance with a traditional spiritual, "Guide My Feet." Approximately 15 students from across the three divisions participated in this year’s event. The program included a duet by cellists Hugh LeSure and Gretchen Claassen, and original works by pianist Katya Sonina, dancers Nigel Campbell and Karell Williams, vocalist Djore Nance, and drama alumni Nelsan Ellis and James Liao. Pictured are James Martin (left) and Nils Neubert, who were part of a vocal quartet that performed spiritals at the concert. (Photo by Rosalie O'Connor)

Slide Show: M.L.K. Celebration