GRAMMY-WINNING GROUP SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK PERFORMS AT OTTERBEIN

Westerville, OH—The Otterbein University Signature Series will host a performance by the Grammy Award-winning a cappella ensemble, Sweet Honey in the Rock, at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 11, in the Fritsche Theatre at Cowan Hall, 30 S. Grove St. This event is free and open to the public. Free tickets must be picked up in advance at the Campus Center Office, 100 W. Home St., between 8:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-11 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. There will be a limit of two tickets per person. For more information, call (614) 823-3202.

Founded in 1973 at the D.C. Black Repertory Theater Company, Sweet Honey in the Rock is an ensemble of six African American women internationally known for their a cappella sounds of blues, spirituals, traditional gospel hymns, rap, reggae, African chants, hip hop, ancient lullabies, and jazz improvisation.

Called “a national treasure” by First Lady Michelle Obama, Sweet Honey has performed at the White House and prestigious venues across the country. Audiences can see them at Otterbein before their upcoming performances at the Rose Center in New York as part of Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Symphony Hall in Boston as part of the Celebrity Series, and Carnegie Hall in New York as part of the Around the Globe Series.

White House photos 2/18/09 by Joyce N. Boghosian.

Sweet Honey won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Recording in 1989 for their version of Leadbelly’s Grey Goose and have been nominated for several other Grammy Awards, including one in 2008 for their latest release, Experience…101. They have been featured on NPR, PBS, and the Ken Burns epic documentary, The Civil War. For more information, or to listen to samples of their work, visit www.sweethoney.com.

The Otterbein University Signature Series was created to bring national and international artists and lecturers to Otterbein to share their experiences with Otterbein students, faculty and staff and the general public. The presenters also teach classes and interact with students and faculty during their visits. The Signature Series has previously featured renowned photographer Joel Meyerowitz and his exhibition of art from Ground Zero, a performance of the musical piece On the Transmigration of Souls by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John Adams, independent filmmaker Gus Van Sant, and a performance by Grammy Award-winning musician Branford Marsalis featuring guest soloist Ellis Marsalis.

Otterbein University