Music Celebrations International

We Have A Dream Concert Series

Washington, DC

Music Celebrations International is thrilled to invite your ensemble to perform as part of the 2023 “We Have a Dream” Concert Series, a year-long concert series commemorating the 60th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Dr. King delivered his 1963 “I Have a Dream Speech” on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial before a live audience of over 250,000 supporters, and televised to millions. In the speech, Dr. King called for civil and economic rights and demanded an end to racism in the United States. This speech was a defining moment of the civil rights movement and is amongst the most iconic speeches in American history.

Washington, D.C., is a city that is pivotal to the United States civil rights movement. The United States Supreme Court building in D.C. was the location of the groundbreaking decision in the landmark 1954 Brown v. Board of Education case, and students and professors at D.C.’s local Howard University played a major role in bringing school desegregation to the nation’s important attention. The National Mall was the site of one of the largest human rights protests in American history – the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom – after which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his historic “I Have a Dream” speech.

The nation’s capital and its historic landmarks offer opportunities for reflection on the American Civil Rights Movement and the country’s progress moving forward. Imagine the poignant feeling of laying a custom-wreath at the Martin Luther King. Jr. Memorial (the first African American with a memorial on the National Mall, and only the fourth non-President to be memorialized in such a way). Visit and tour the home of Abolitionist Frederick Douglass, see Duke Ellington’s childhood home and eat in a restaurant that Dr. King ate in prior to his famous 1963 speech (Bens Chili Bowl). From its celebrated symbols of patriotism and civil rights to its undiscovered neighborhoods, the sights and sounds of the nation’s capital inspire millions of visitors every year.

Music Celebrations International is proud to organize these performance experiences for your ensemble to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington, DC.

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Itinerary

Washington, DC

3 Nights | 4 Days

Day One

Arrive in D.C. and meet MCI Tour Manager for an orientation tour of historic D.C.
Late afternoon hotel check-in
Dinner included at a local restaurant
Evening guided illuminated walking tour of the Korean, Vietnam, National World War II, African American Civil War, Emancipation Monument, Eisenhower, and Jefferson Memorials as well as the Washington Monument
Visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, on the National Mall. This memorial honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy and his passionate efforts for freedom, equality, and justice. An impactful leader in the civil rights movement, Dr. King was a tireless advocate for racial equality, the working class, and the oppressed around the world. The centerpiece of the memorial is a 30-foot statue of Dr. King, featuring his likeness carved into the Stone of Hope, which rises from two large boulders, known as the Mountain of Despair. Together, they represent the impactful words from Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Text from this speech is cut clearly into the rock of the Stone: “Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope.” This Memorial is the first African American with a memorial on the National Mall, and only the fourth non-President to be memorialized in such a way.
Visit the Lincoln Memorial, the most visited Memorial in Washington, D.C. and the site of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a Dream” speech to over 250,000 live spectators on August 28, 1963. Stand in the very spot that Dr. King Stood (now marked with a permanent inscription of “I Have a Dream), as he delivered his speech that was a defining moment of the civil rights movement and among the most iconic speeches in American history. Also learn about the Great March on Washington and the Million Man March, both pivotal civil rights events in our country’s history
Overnight at the hotel

Day Two

Breakfast included at the hotel
Visit the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site. Often called the “Father of the Civil Rights Movement,” Frederick Douglass is one of the most famous abolitionists and civil rights advocates in American history. The Frederick Douglass National Historic Site preserves the final home and legacy of this profoundly influential figure at Cedar Hill – Douglass’s home from 1878 until his death in 1895. At the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, the National Park Service details the historic story of this famous runaway slave, abolitionist, Underground Railroad conductor, civil rights advocate, author, and diplomat
Lunch, on own
Clinic or performance as part of the “We Have a Dream”
Concert Series
Dinner included at Ben’s Chili Bowl, a local establishment, dined in by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. prior to his March on Washington
Overnight at the hotel

Day Three

Breakfast included at the hotel
Visit the tour the National Archives, to see the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Emancipation Proclamation
Visit Black Lives Matter plaza, an important gathering place for activists, largely because of its proximity to the White House
Visit Lafayette Square for a photo opportunity with the White House
Lunch, on own
Afternoon self-guided visit of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the world’s largest museum dedicated to African-American history and culture and one of the most visited Smithsonian Museums
Dinner included at a local restaurant
Performance as part of the “We Have a Dream” Concert Series
Return to the hotel for overnight

Day Four

Breakfast included at the hotel, followed by check-out
Visit and tour Arlington National Cemetery and participate in a special Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Also visit the Welcome Center, the Kennedy Gravesites and the John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame, the Space Shuttle Challenger Memorial, and other important sites within Arlington
Lunch, on own
Afternoon tour of Pentagon National 9/11 Memorial, U.S. Air Force Memorial and Marine Corps “Iwo Jima” War Memorial
Departure for home

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