Public Television to Air Dorothy Cotton Concert at Ithaca College

By Dave Maley, February 2, 2024
Performance was taped last fall in Ford Hall.

A concert by the Dorothy Cotton Jubilee Singers at Ithaca College will be shown on upstate New York PBS television stations during Black History Month. The performance will premiere on Binghamton’s WSKG-TV at 8:30 p.m. and Syracuse’s WCNY-TV at 11:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 9. It will also air live and be available for later viewing at video.wskg.org.

The concert was taped last October in Ford Hall in partnership with the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance as part of “Expressions,” WSKG’s long-running locally produced series showcasing the best in regional arts and culture coverage. For over 15 seasons the series has featured concert performances and artist profiles that highlight the area's talent.

“WSKG is proud and excited to be bringing this special episode to the public,” said “Expressions” producer Andrew Pioch. “We hope it provides our audience with a greater understanding of both this talented ensemble and its namesake.”

View a preview of the "Expressions" episode featuring the Dorothy Cotton Jubilee Singers.

The concert program showcases the Jubilee singers performing alongside guest soloist Krista Overby and with the Ithaca College Symphony Orchestra. Directed by Associate Professor of Music Baruch Whitehead, the Dorothy Cotton Jubilee Singers is a long-time Ithaca community vocal group and was recently designated an official student ensemble of the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance.

The ensemble is dedicated to the preservation of Negro spirituals and the legacy of Dorothy Cotton, the late longtime civil rights leader and resident of Ithaca.