(New Orleans)—The combined choirs of Loyola University, Xavier University, and the New Orleans Black Chorale will perform Stand by Me, a celebration of African American Spirituals and Black Gospel Music, on Sunday, April 29, 2007, at 7:30 p.m., in Loyola’s Louis J. Roussel Performance Hall. The performance is free and open to the public.

This spirit-filled work, written and arranged by Stephen Lee, was originally presented in Orlando, Florida, shortly after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, at the American Music Therapy national convention. Lee created the work to provide a space for those in the gulf coast to grieve and express grief in the community through music. It will be recorded on April 22 in Ontario, Canada.

For more information on the composition, please contact Stephen Lee at pmsinc@bellsouth.net. For more information about the performance, please contact Elizabeth Dalferes in Loyola’s Office of Public Affairs at (504) 861-5882, or eadalfer@loyno.edu