Promotional Toolkit

The Fierce Urgency of Now: MLK Tribute Concert
January 22, 2026 | 7 PM
Asylum Hill Congregational church
814 Asylum Ave, Hartford, CT

This toolkit provides what you’ll need to easily share this free community event with your friends and community. Whether posting on social media, sending an email, or printing a flyer, your support will help bring new audiences to this important celebration of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King. Thank you for helping us spread the word.

How to Use This Toolkit

  • Share on Social Media using our ready-made graphics and captions and be sure to tag @hartfordsymphony in your posts!
  • Send an Email Invitation; a personal recommendation goes a long way!
  • Spread the Word in Person. Feel free to print a flyer or reach out to Ashley Fedigan for printed pieces.
  • Like and Follow Hartford Symphony on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram

We’re grateful for any help you’re able to offer in spreading the word and welcoming others to join us.

Promotional Information & Assets

The program intentionally places historic voices (Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and traditional spirituals) alongside living composers (Quinn Mason, Ozie Cargile, Curtis Stewart, Jeff Scott), creating a conversation across generations. Together, these works form a powerful blend of classical, spiritual, and gospel traditions—music rooted in the Black experience that speaks to faith, resilience, and the ongoing journey toward justice and hope. The performance reflects the importance of Black artistic leadership in interpreting music grounded in the Black experience

About Wayne du Maine

Wayne du Maine is an esteemed conductor and performer whose career spans orchestral leadership, Broadway, and acclaimed solo performances. With deep experience in both performance and education, DuMaine brings insight and artistry to this program. (Wayne Dumaine | NYU Steinhardt)

About Curtis Stewart

Seven-time Grammy® Award-nominated violinist and composer Curtis Stewart serves as the HSO’s 2025-26 Joyce C. Willis Artist in Residence, a program honoring the legacy of Joyce C. Willis by supporting Black artists and fostering artistic excellence and inclusion. His work with the HSO this season has extended beyond the concert stage to educational events and creative collaborations that have engaged youth in the Greater Hartford region. (Joyce C. Willis Artist in Residence | Hartford Symphony Orchestra)

About Metropolitan AME Zion Church

The Metropolitan AME Zion Church, Hartford’s oldest African American congregation and a center for social reform and activism with roots back to the early 1800s. The Met’s choir joins the HSO for this performance. (Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church – Wikipedia)

About Asylum Hill Congregational Church

Asylum Hill Congregational Church has a historic connection to Dr. King, who spoke there at an interdenominational gathering in 1959. He was deeply moved by the warmth and welcome he experienced in Hartford — a striking contrast to the segregated reality he knew in the South — and later wrote home about the positive treatment he received here. (Asylum Hill Congregational Church – A member of the United Church of Christ)

Here are a few templates you can use as is or edit to add a personal touch. Please reach out the HSO Marketing team if you need any additional information.

Spirit of Welcome

On January 22, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra returns to Asylum Hill Congregational Church (814 Asylum Ave, Hartford) for The Fierce Urgency of Now, a free MLK Tribute Concert. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke here in 1959 during his first visit to Connecticut, finding inspiration in Hartford’s spirit of welcome.
7 PM | Free | All are welcome
Registration encouraged.

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Music & Community

Music and community come together for The Fierce Urgency of Now, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra’s MLK Tribute Concert. Featuring conductor Wayne du Maine, violinist Curtis Stewart, and the Metropolitan AME Zion Church of Hartford.
Asylum Hill Congregational Church, 814 Asylum Ave, Hartford
January 22 | 7 PM | Free
Registration encouraged.

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Invitation

We invite you to gather with us for a free MLK Tribute Concert with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. The Fierce Urgency of Now honors Dr. King’s legacy through music, reflection, and shared community.
January 22 | 7 PM
Asylum Hill Congregational Church, 814 Asylum Ave, Hartford
Registration encouraged.

Like and Follow Hartford Symphony on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram

We will be updating this page with more social media content.

Please reach out to Ashley Fedigan (afedigan@hartfordsymphony.org, 860-760-7317) for printed copies of our posters or postcard.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Ashley Fedigan, Director of Marketing & Public Relations 
860-760-7317, afedigan@hartfordsymphony.org

HARTFORD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS THE FIERCE URGENCY OF NOW: MLK TRIBUTE CONCERT 

FREE concert honors the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at Asylum Hill Congregational Church in Hartford 

Hartford, CT – December 15, 2025– Hartford, CT — The Hartford Symphony Orchestra (HSO) invites the community to celebrate the enduring legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a stirring tribute concert, The Fierce Urgency of Now: MLK Tribute Concert. This powerful and moving event will take place on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at 7:00 PM at the historic Asylum Hill Congregational Church in Hartford. The concert is FREE and open to the public, with reservations recommended but not required. 

Under the direction of guest conductor, Wayne Dumaine, the HSO presents a program that uplifts Dr. King’s message of equality, hope, and unity. Featuring composer and violinist, Curtis Stewart, the 2025-2026 Joyce C. Willis Artist in Residence, the evening will blend music, reflections, and the spirit of community in a performance that highlights the transformative power of the arts. 

“We are proud to present The Fierce Urgency of Now: MLK Tribute Concert, honoring the enduring legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the uplifting power of music to drive social change,” said Steve Collins, President & CEO of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. “This concert offers us a chance to unite as a community, reflect on Dr. King’s vision for justice and equality, and renew our commitment to hope, inclusivity, and harmony. We look forward to sharing this impactful experience with everyone.” 

Program Highlights: 

Reservations:
This concert is free and open to the public, with reservations recommended to secure seating. Reservations can be made by visiting hartfordsymphony.org. 

Event Details: 

Date:  Thursday, January 22, 2026 at 7 PM
Location: Asylum Hill Congregational Church, 814 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 

Calendar Listing
The Fierce Urgency of Now: MLK Tribute Concert 
Thursday, January 22, 2026 
Asylum Hill Congregational Church, 814 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT
Free but reservations recommended 
hartfordsymphony.org 

Featuring
Wayne du Maine , conductor
Curtis Stewart, violin  

This concert is graciously sponsored by the Greater Hartford Arts Council. 

About the Hartford Symphony Orchestra 

The Hartford Symphony Orchestra is a leading cultural institution in Connecticut, renowned for its exceptional performances and commitment to artistic excellence. The HSO brings a diverse range of classical and contemporary music to audiences throughout the region, while also fostering community engagement through education and outreach programs. The orchestra’s mission is to enrich lives through the power of music and to serve as a vibrant cultural resource for the Hartford community and beyond.