R&B SENSATION KEM TO HEADLINE ZORA! FESTIVAL 2010 OUTDOOR FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS

 

Other weekend activities include Education Day, a community choir and the festival
being free and open to the public for the second year

 

Eatonville, Fla. -– In addition to being free and open to the public for the second year, the Association to Preserve the Eatonville Community, Inc. (P.E.C.) announces an exciting entertainment lineup for ZORA! Festival 2010 Outdoor Festival of the Arts, Friday, January 29 – Sunday, January 31. R&B/soul sensation Kem will headline the festival’s Center Stage at 3:30pm on Saturday, January 30. The weekend continues Sunday, January 31, with a performance by the ZORA! Festival Thousand Voice Multi-Cultural Community Choir, comprised of local choirs, ensembles and soloists from throughout the Central Florida region. 

 

Kem is a noted R&B/soul singer, songwriter and producer who rose to fame in 2002, with hits such as Love Calls; I Can’t Stop Loving You and Find Your Way (Back in My Life). His musical talent has been solicited by many artists and filmmakers. He wrote and performed Tonight, which is included on the soundtrack for Tyler Perry’s film, “Madea’s Family Reunion.” Additionally, Kem’s remake of Nat King Cole’s Fascination was featured in the film, “Take the Lead” starring Antonio Banderas.

 

On Sunday, January 31, festival-goers will be treated to a special performance of the new ZORA! Festival Thousand Voice Multi-Cultural Community Choir. Under the direction of choirmaster Roger Mike, a distinguished musician who has been in the music industry for more than 40 years, this mass choir will represent the convergence of varying religions, ethnicities and cultures in one voice at Festival Center Stage at 3pm. Festival organizers are still seeking choir members representing any religion, culture and ethnicity. 

 

“ZORA! Festival 2010 is significant in that we are celebrating Zora’s 50-year legacy.  What better way to pay tribute to her, than with an exciting slate of weekend activities, all free and open to the public and by bringing together the various cultures in our community for the Thousand-Voice Choir!” said N.Y. Nathiri, executive director of P.E.C. and festival general manager. 

 

Friday’s Outdoor Festival of the Arts will be “Education Day,” and will continue to feature a number of events and activities for students of all ages.  Educators who wish to arrange field trips for Education Day can reach the P.E.C. office. 

 

“We expect our Outdoor Festival of the Arts to be another exciting weekend for our community,” said Johnny Rivers, president of the P.E.C. board of directors.  “We are also thrilled to present this exciting programming free and open to the public for the second year.” 

 

For a full festival schedule visit www.zorafestival.com or call 407-647-3131.

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ZORA! Festival 2010 Outdoor Festival of the Arts, 2

 

The Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts and Humanities is held in venues throughout Orange County, with the Outdoor Festival of the Arts held in Eatonville, the nation’s oldest incorporated African American municipality, established in 1887. This multi-disciplinary, multi-day celebration of the arts and humanities is organized and presented by The Association to Preserve the Eatonville Community, Inc. (P.E.C.), a membership-based, tax exempt, historic preservation organization established in 1988. The festival has been a celebrated event of the Central Florida community since 1990 and has attracted more than 500,000 guests since its inception.  The festival is named in honor of the 20^th century charismatic literary figure, Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960), the dominant female voice of the Harlem Renaissance. The festival also celebrates the historical significance of her hometown, Eatonville, as well as the cultural contributions people of African ancestry have made to the United States and world culture. A schedule of events is available at www.zorafestival.com. For further information, please contact (407) 647-3131; info@zorafestival.com.