The Swinney Conservatory of Music at Central Methodist University will present Music of the World: Concert for Human Rights on Sunday, May 4 at 3 p.m. in Linn Memorial United Methodist Church.

This dynamic program, featuring the Conservatory Singers and Chorale under the direction of Dr. Thomas Clark, invites audiences to reflect on our shared humanity through powerful texts, global music, and a call for justice and compassion.

The concert features a blend of choral music and spoken word drawn from the voices of global visionaries including Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, Arundhati Roy, Azar Nafisi, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Selections such as Donald McCullough’s “We Remember Them” from the Holocaust Cantata, Joan Szymko’s “It Takes a Village,” and Michael Barrett’s “Indodana” are paired with reflections that speak urgently to the need for peace, remembrance, and global dignity. Additional highlights include Randall Thompson’s “The Last Words of David,” a stirring scriptural anthem performed by the combined choirs; Rosephanye Powell’s “To Sit and Dream,” set to the poetry of Langston Hughes and calling for a more just world; and a haunting choral adaptation of “MLK” by U2, paying tribute to Dr. King’s enduring legacy. Adding international color, the ensemble will also present “Balleilakka,” a vibrant Tamil film song arranged for choir that pulses with cultural pride, rhythmic energy, and joy.

Joining Dr. Clark is Janet O’Neill, collaborative artist, along with a cast of university readers who will guide the audience through poetic and historic reflections on human rights from across the globe.

“This is more than a concert—it’s a conversation,” said Clark. “Our students are engaging with repertoire that demands compassion, courage, and community. We want the audience to leave feeling both inspired and responsible.”

This concert is free and open to the public. For those unable to attend in person, the event will be livestreamed on the CMU website.