Martin Luther King Weekend 2010 Boston

The African-American civil rights leader, Martin Luther King was a son of the South, but he also had a strong Boston connection. King lived in Boston for several years while working on his Ph.D in Theology which he recieved  from Boston University in 1955.  And it was during his Boston years that he met  his future wife, Coretta Scott, a voice student at New England Conservatory. Boston University’s memorial to King , an abstract work, “Free at Last “ depicts 50 doves flying upward in formation, and is located on Commonwealth Avenue in front of Marsh Chapel (Map).

Boston’s weekend celebration of Martin Luther King’s birthday kicks off with the Joyful Noise Concert by the Harlem Gospel Choir on January 16, 2010  at 7:30 PM at Harvard’s Sander’s Theatre (45 Quincy St., Cambridge)(Map). Tickets are $22 adults, $16 students and seniors, and children $12. This concert is an annual event and often sells out- so get your tickets in advance!

Martin Luther King Day, Monday January 18,  is a public school holiday , so families may want to head over to the Museum of Fine Arts (465 Huntington Ave., Boston, 617-267-9300) (Map) for the MFA’s Community Day. The open house takes place from 10 AM-4:45 PM and features free general admission  for all, as well as free admission to the Museum’s special exhibits, including the museum’s very popular , “Secrets of Tomb 10A”.  There will be a Gospel Concert at 12:15 PM in the Remis Auditorium, an afternoon poetry slam  in the Remis Auditorium from 2:30-4:30 PM, and free tours and family art activities in the galleries throughout the day.

Finally,  the Boston Children’s Chorus will present its 7th annual Martin Luther King tribute concert, “From a Child’s Mind” on January 18th at 7 PM at New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall (290 Huntington Ave., Boston) (Map), tickets range from $25-$45. These young voices will sing  inspirational music including “Keep Your Lamps” , “Lean On Me” and  “MLK” by U2 .

Image Credit:   Vocalist and songwriter Shea Rose performs with an ensemble for the Berklee School of Music, courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston