RIT welcomes cutting-edge performers during the 37th Annual Expression of King’s Legacy | January 2019
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) invites everyone to celebrate the 37th Annual Expressions of King’s Legacy on January 31, 2019, from 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. held at the Gordon Field House and Activities Center. RIT is excited to welcome Tara Setmayer, a CNN Political Commentator, ABC News Political Contributor and former GOP communications director on Capitol Hill as our premier keynote speaker. Please register and let us know you’ll be joining us.
Setmayer’s keynote address is entitled “Stand Up and Be Heard. The Importance of Living the Legacy.”
She is currently the host of "Honestly Speaking with Tara," podcast. Setmayer appears on CNN's prime time programs and contributes to ABC's The View, Good Morning America and HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher. Before becoming a CNN political contributor, Setmayer was already a seasoned media commentator appearing on various national television programs on Fox News Channel, ABC, HBO, PBS, and C-SPAN. She has also written for Cosmopolitan, The Daily Beast and CNN.com and has guest-hosted on SiriusXM's Patriot and POTUS channels.
Setmayer’s civic and political trajectory started to take flight nationally in the mid-'90s as a political science student at the George Washington University. Setmayer’s conservative values, “tell it how it is” commentary and advocacy efforts to motivate, recruit and support more women in politics, regardless of party politics, set her apart among political circles.
We will have a one-of-kind of performance with Syncopated Ladies, a female tap dance band, founded by Emmy Nominated choreographer, Chloé Arnold, protégé of legendary choreographer Debbie Allen. Arnold’s choreography has been featured on hit television shows such as So You Think You Can Dance, Good Morning America, The Ellen Show, The Talk and over 30 episodes of The Late Late Show with James Corden.
With Chloé Arnold paving the way and carving out Syncopated Ladies’ own place in the industry, they have garnished over 50 million views online, receiving praise from Beyonce, Whoopi Goldberg on The View, as well as many other celebrities and news outlets around the world. This powerful female tap dance band will join us from Los Angeles, CA with their distinctive style, crisp choreography, and bustling energy.
Followed by a vocal performance by soprano Kearstin Piper Brown and accompanied by pianist Edward Rothmel. Recently, Brown returned to San Francisco Opera for her main stage debut (and cover) as Clara in Heggie's It’s A Wonderful Life. She also sang Barber's Knoxville: Summer of 1915 with San José Chamber Orchestra and Arias, a multidisciplinary show at Rochester's Lyric Theater.
Brown, a versatile soprano has also sung concerts at Jazz at Lincoln Center, with the American Spiritual Ensemble, and she toured with the 3 Mo’ Divas (the sister group of the 3 Mo’ Tenors). She holds a Master of Music in vocal performance and literature from Northwestern University School of Music. Brown is known for gripping audiences with her vocal agility and presence.
Pianist Edward Rothmel started his piano studies at the age of five and gave his first solo debut at age twelve. He has performed professionally in numerous solo and chamber music contexts, giving recitals throughout the United States and China. Currently, Rothmel is pursuing his doctorate of musical arts in collaborative piano at the Eastman School of Music under the tutelage of Dr. Jean Barr.
For nearly four decades, RIT has committed to celebrating the work and living legacy of Dr. King Jr. by featuring speakers and dynamic performers who embody his vision of equality for all people.