Ensemble returning to Peabody
Staff writer
The Wichita-based Arise Ensemble with its blend of musical storytelling rooted in black history will return to Peabody this month.
For more than 30 years, the group has performed negro spirituals alongside historical context, connecting the origins of the music to issues that still resonate today.
“What we do is remind people that this music is part of the fabric of the United States,” said Gerald Norwood, president of the ensemble’s board.
The event offers both a cultural experience and an opportunity for reflection, with proceeds supporting local programming. Storytelling explains how the music emerged during slavery and how those themes translate to modern life.
“It allows them to translate that music to personal issues,” Norwood said.
Founded by civil rights leader and former Wichita school board member Jo Brown, the ensemble has expanded from preserving music to promoting understanding across cultures.
That mission, Norwood said, is especially relevant today.
“There’s an effort to diminish history and to rewrite it,” he said. “That’s why we need to keep telling these stories.”
Bringing that message to rural communities like Peabody is a key part of the group’s work.
“In smaller communities, this gives people a chance to experience something they might not otherwise be exposed to,” Norwood said.
The ensemble itself reflects that message, drawing members from different backgrounds and demographics to demonstrate how diversity can work in practice.
“Our group is diverse from an ethnicity standpoint, age standpoint, and religion,” Norwood said.
The upcoming performance marks a return visit to Peabody, where Norwood said audiences have responded strongly to the group’s message.
“If it was only good for one year, we wouldn’t be there again,” he said.
The Arise Ensemble will perform at 2 p.m. March 21 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in an event hosted by Sunflower Theatre and Peabody Township Library. Admission will be by donation.