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The Grand Rapids Women’s Chorus will bring the story of Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray to life on March 21 through a large-scale choral cantata blending music, narration and instrumental ensemble. Featuring 110 members of the chorus, “Sincerely Yours, Pauli Murray” anchors GRWC’s 30th anniversary season and highlights three decades of using choral music to engage the community around issues of justice, equity and social change.Through powerful storytelling combined with music, the 10-part cantata illuminates the extraordinary lifelong work of Pauli Murray (1910–1985). Murray was a pioneering Black legal scholar, civil rights activist, feminist poet, labor organizer, LGBTQ+ advocate and the first Black female Episcopal priest. The work explores Murray’s profound influence on American history and her lasting contributions to the movements for racial and gender equity.
“This work allows us to tell Pauli Murray’s story in a way that is deeply human, emotional and urgent,” said Lori Tennenhouse, artistic director of the GRWC. “Through music and storytelling, we are honoring a visionary whose ideas about justice, equality and intersectionality remain critically relevant today.”
The main performance will take place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 21, 2026, at Fountain Street Church, 24 Fountain St. NE, Grand Rapids. A pre-concert lecture will be held from 6:30 to 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public with donations accepted at the door. ASL interpretation will be provided.
In the week leading up to the concert, GRWC will also be hosting a series of educational events exploring Pauli Murray’s groundbreaking ideas on race, gender equity, and intersectionality:
Saturday, March 14: Community Kick-Off at the Grandville Avenue for the Arts & Humanities, 3 p.m.
Tuesday, March 17: Music and Poetry Inspired by Pauli Murray in a collaborative event with The Diatribe and Emory Arts & Culture Hub (location and time to be announced)
Thursday, March 19: GRCC Diversity Lecture Series featuring a speaker from the Pauli Murray Center, 12 p.m.;
Thursday, March 19: Pauli Murray documentary screening and panel discussion, 6 p.m., Spectrum Theater
Saturday, March 21: Legacy of Activism: Sincerely Yours, Pauli Murray, Fountain Street Church
• Pre-concert lecture 6:30 – 7 p.m.
• Community Partners Info (tabling event) 6 – 7:30 p.m.
• Performances by the Grand Rapids Women’s Chorus and guests 7:30 – 9 p.m.
Together, we will bring Pauli Murray’s enduring message of justice, equality, and resilience to life!
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Fountain Street Church, 24 Fountain St NE,Grand Rapids,MI,United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
