"Robert Shaw – Man of Many Voices traces the journey of a small town California boy who planned to be a minister like his father, but instead became the greatest conductor of choral music the world has ever known. At the heart of the film is the mystery of Shaw’s genius. With no formal musical training, he achieved a stunning early success in popular music and later became legendary for his interpretations of classical music’s great choral masterpieces.
An early champion of civil rights, Shaw had a mystical belief in the power of community and could communicate his passion for music with spellbinding intensity. As Music Director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in the latter half of the twentieth century, Robert Shaw changed the course of musical history through the many voices he set on fire with an enduring love of music.
Emmy Award winning actor, David Hyde Pierce, narrates the film. Starting with Mr. Shaw’s modest beginnings the story traces his improbable but meteoric rise to national stardom and international acclaim. The choral world’s fascination with Robert Shaw’s techniques are only slightly matched by the music world’s celebration of the sounds he was able to create. 16 Grammy Awards plus the first classical “Gold Album”, selling more than one million copies, attest to his 60-year career." from the website RobertShawtheFilm.com.
This Kansas City Premiere of Robert Shaw, Man of Many Voices will be preceded by brief performances by the William Baker Festival Singers, the Lawrence Children's Choir, Arietha Lockhart, Soprano, and a mass choir of local voices under the direction of Norman Mackenzie, successor to Robert Shaw.