Watch Anita Hill Perform with Boston Conservatory Orchestra at Symphony Hall The attorney, scholar, and civil rights activist narrated the words of Martin Luther King Jr. in a performance of Joseph Schwantner's New Morning for the World.
By
Annette Fantasia
August 8, 2024
Anita Hill with Boston Conservatory Orchestra, conducted by Professor Bruce Hangen.
Liz Friar
As a scholar, attorney, civil rights activist, and trailblazing advocate for gender equality, Dr. Anita Hill has long been in the public consciousness as a powerful agent of social change.
On February 16, 2024, Hill brought her singular voice to a different kind of stage when she made her orchestral debut at Boston's Symphony Hall with Boston Conservatory Orchestra in a special performance of Joseph Schwantner's New Morning for the World, in which she recited the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Presented as part of Boston Conservatory Orchestra's Black History Month celebration, the performance gave Conservatory student musicians a rare opportunity to experience history while making it-sharing the stage with a deeply pivotal figure in a storied concert hall.
WATCH: Anita Hill joins Boston Conservatory Orchestra and Conductor Bruce Hangen in a performance of Joseph Schwantner's New Morning for the World.
The feeling that I want people to leave with is not that history is being read to them, but I want them to take into account the contemporary situation that we're in and to understand that these words are words that can help us think about how we are going to end inequality, how we are going to promote justice, and what it takes to get there.
- Anita Hill
Premiering in 1983 at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., New Morning for the World incorporates various excerpts from King's speeches and writings, including Letter from Birmingham Jail, Behind the Selma March, and the I Have a Dream speech. At Symphony Hall, Hill joined the ranks of other prominent voices-including Maya Angelou, Coretta Scott King, and James Earl Jones-who have recited King's words in previous performances of Shwantner's piece.
In a conversation with GBH's Jared Bowen ahead of the performance, Hill emphasized the strong resonance of King's words with present-day struggles for equality: The feeling that I want people to leave with is not that history is being read to them, but I want them to take into account the contemporary situation that we're in and to understand that these words are words that can help us think about how we are going to end inequality, how we are going to promote justice, and what it takes to get there.
Learn more about Boston Conservatorys top-ranking music programs.
Most Popular
Jim Lucchese
Image by Kelly Davidson
Jim Lucchese Named Berklee's Fifth President A 20-year music industry veteran and a committed artist advocate with deep Berklee roots, Lucchese sets the tone for a new era at the institution.
Latest
Left to right: Berklee Professor Dennis Montgomery III, Bishop Hezekiah Walker, Dr. Teresa Hairston-Jackson, the Rev. Dr. Milton Biggham, Lisa Harrigan 83, Ms. Evelyn D. Lee, and Berklee Dean Emmett G. Price III at the 2024 Signature Series Gospel Extravaganza Concert.
Image by Omari Spears
Berklees Africana Studies Division Launches New Degree Program in Black Music and Culture The first area of focus is gospel music, which will encompass artistry, industry, and culture.
Gaia Wilmer and Jacques Morelembaum
Image by Dani Gurgel
Berklee's Signature Series Celebrates Brazilian Composers Caetano Veloso and Ant nio Carlos Jobim The concert will feature performances from legendary cellist Jaques Morelenbaum and saxophonist Gaia Wilmer.
Anita Hill with Boston Conservatory Orchestra, conducted by Professor Bruce Hangen.
Liz Friar
Watch Anita Hill Perform with Boston Conservatory Orchestra at Symphony Hall The attorney, scholar, and civil rights activist narrated the words of Martin Luther King Jr. in a performance of Joseph Schwantner's New Morning for the World.
Read All
Subscribe The latest sounds, stories, and ideas, sent to your inbox weekly.
North America Stories
26/03/2026
Extron and Audio-Technica have announced that their Design Solutions devices, Ce...
26/03/2026
SPORTEL Asia took place March 24-25 at the Orchard Hotel Singapore, drawing 370 participants representing more than 220 companies from 35 countries. Approximate...
26/03/2026
LTN will demonstrate satellite-to-IP migration solutions for broadcasters, cable networks, MVPDs, and station groups at NAB Show 2026 (Booth W2100).
The C-Ban...
26/03/2026
The Seattle Mariners have partnered with Daktronics to install an upgraded outfi...
26/03/2026
The Esports Foundation (EF) has awarded National Team Partner status to organizations and individuals across more than 100 countries and territories for the Esp...
26/03/2026
Telestream has announced expanded integration between its Vantage workflow platf...
26/03/2026
FOR-A Corporation has announced a partnership with Nippon TV and NVIDIA to distr...
26/03/2026
CBS Sports and the WNBA have expanded their partnership through a new long-term, multiplatform rights agreement. CBS Sports will feature up to 20 regular-season...
26/03/2026
Zac Brown Band will star in the Sunday Night Baseball show open on NBC and Peacock, NBC Sports announced. The open was filmed at American Family Field, home of ...
26/03/2026
Major League Baseball opens the 2026 season with nationally televised games across multiple media partners. Fans can visit MLB.com/Watch for a complete schedule...
26/03/2026
DIRECTV has announced an agreement to carry nine new MLB-operated team channels, covering the Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers (Detroit SportsNet), Kansas City R...
26/03/2026
Nationals.TV, the Washington Nationals' local broadcast channel, is now avai...
26/03/2026
Starting Thursday, March 26, MLB.TV will be available on the ESPN App, giving fans access to more than 2,000 out-of-market regular season games. Fans can also r...
26/03/2026
By Matt Klein
Hello to everyone reading this - whether you're a current YEP, HPA member, or just YEP-curious. I'm Matt Klein, one of the co-chairs of t...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
28 participating companies, from start-ups to blue-chips, lead the UK Group as part of the GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland presence across all the Halls at N...
26/03/2026
Arkona Unveils BLADE//planner and Major Usability Enhancements at NAB 2026
Brie Clayton March 26, 2026
0 Comments
New graphical configuration tool and...
26/03/2026
Bitfocus showcases complete control at NAB Show 2026
Brie Clayton March 26, 2026
0 Comments
Continuing development drives advances in security, availa...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
26/03/2026
Nevion introduces powerful new Panel Builder to enhance VideoIPath broadcast con...
26/03/2026
2026 Oscar Nominated Films Powered by Blackmagic Design
Brie Clayton March 25, 2026
0 Comments
DaVinci Resolve Studio used on 27 of this year's no...
26/03/2026
Leader to present full suite of advanced Test & Measurement solutions at NAB Sho...
26/03/2026
Boston Conservatory to Present New England and Collegiate Premiere of Groundbrea...
26/03/2026
Back to All News
Have a Wish Worth Dying For? Netflix's First Korean YA Hor...
26/03/2026
Back to All News
The Truthers, Starring Jose Coronado and St phanie Magnin, Pre...
26/03/2026
Editor's note: This post is part of Into the Omniverse, a series focused on ...
26/03/2026
That gaming backlog won't clear itself - GeForce NOW is here to help. Stream the latest titles straight from the cloud across a variety of devices.
This we...
25/03/2026
Live match directors Sarah Cheadle (Sky Sports), Rob Levi (TNT Sports), and Andrew Swift (BBC Sport) sit down with the Premier League's Rachel Nightingale t...
25/03/2026
The senior from Upstate New York is manning the mic while also interning for the athletic department's sports-information team
In the live-sports-video ind...
25/03/2026
Synamedia has announced ContentArmor Edge Watermarking, a server-side solution t...
25/03/2026
SES has announced meoSphere, a medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellite network targeted for operation by 2030. The first phase will pair SES-developed software-defin...
25/03/2026
TVU Networks is working with Reuters on a phased migration from satellite to a c...
25/03/2026
Nielsen has announced three senior appointments. Seth Ladetsky has been named Head of Global Sports. Trevor Fellows will lead Nielsen's advertiser and agenc...
25/03/2026
Anoki and Amagi have launched In-Scene Ads powered by Anoki ContextIQ across Amagi's portfolio of in-content ad formats for Free Ad-supported Streaming TV (...
25/03/2026
Arkona Technologies will announce a series of enhancements to its BLADE//runner platform at NAB 2026 (Booth C.1808). The updates focus on usability and workflow...
25/03/2026
Daktronics has installed two tower displays and a video wall in the Lexus Club at Petco Park in San Diego ahead of the 2026 season.
Continuing to improve the ...
25/03/2026
MultiDyne Video & Fiber Optic Systems is celebrating its 50th anniversary as NAB Show 2026 approaches. The company was founded in 1976 by Vincent Jachetta, an N...
25/03/2026
IPC, a provider of integrated communication solutions, will make its NAB 2026 de...
25/03/2026
Live production categories were led by NBC, FOX, and ESPN's NFL coverage...
25/03/2026
The Atlanta Braves and Spectrum have announced a multiyear distribution agreemen...
25/03/2026
(L-R) Charlie Tyrell and Daniel Roher attend The AI Doc: Or How I Became An Apocaloptimist Premiere during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival at The Ray Theatre ...
25/03/2026
L3Harris Technologies and RFTEQ Pty Ltd signed a memorandum of understanding to ...
25/03/2026
L3Harris delivers combat-ready Torpedo Tube Launch and Recovery system, which deploys and retrieves Iver4 900 autonomous underwater vehicles through submarine t...
25/03/2026
The company expands leadership team under Chief Revenue Officer Amilcar Perez
S...
Watch Anita Hill Perform with Boston Conservatory Orchestra at Symphony Hall The attorney, scholar, and civil rights activist narrated the words of Martin Luther King Jr. in a performance of Joseph Schwantner's New Morning for the World. 
