“We are so pleased to once again hold The Philadelphia Orchestra’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute Concert at Martin Luther King High School,” said Philadelphia Orchestra Association President and CEO James Undercofler. “We are deeply appreciative to our partners – CIGNA, Representative Dwight Evans, and Foundations, Inc. – who make it possible for us to bring the messages of Dr. King and the power of this Orchestra’s great music out into the Philadelphia community.”
“CIGNA has been a proud sponsor of the Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute Concert for 17 years – and with good reason,” said H. Edward Hanway, chairman and chief executive officer of CIGNA Corporation. “We embrace completely the principles of equality, service, respect, and strength of community implicit in Dr. King’s legacy. And we take very seriously our responsibility as a corporate citizen to embody those principles in the marketplace. We also respect and admire the artistry of The Philadelphia Orchestra – one of the world’s truly great musical ensembles – in providing such an extraordinary musical backdrop to Dr. King’s universal message of hope and achievement.”
State Representative Dwight Evans’s leadership and vision were instrumental in bringing the Orchestra to Martin Luther King High School for the Tribute Concert. “I am extremely proud that Martin Luther King High School will once again host a day of events honoring the life of Dr. King. Through the King Day of Service program, Healthy, Healthy Mind, Healthy Community Fair, and the Philadelphia Orchestra performance under the esteemed conductorship of Thomas Wilkins, Dr. King’s dream comes alive. For this day we can all share in, be part of, and be transformed by the eloquence inspired by Dr. King,” said Representative Evans.
Martin Luther King High School is managed by Foundations, Inc., which is dedicated to transitioning the school into a high-performing, competitive school. Foundations, Inc., CEO Rhonda Lauer states, “I think I speak for everyone at Martin Luther King High School and Foundations when I say that we are thrilled to host this wonderful concert for a third year. We are even more excited than we were the first year. The concert only gets better and better. At King, and within all of our Neighborhood School Network schools, our goals are to increase student performance and build the community. We see this event as an example of what can come from a great partnership. This event exemplifies a rich cultural experience that brings families and the entire community together.” -- www.philorch.org
