The Catholic Diocese of Toledo and St. Martin de Porres will celebrate Black History Month with the 15th Annual Neighborhood Concert Series being sponsored for the second year in a row by Huntington Bank.

Huntington’s Community President, Barbara Berebitsky is ecstatic that Huntington Bank is teaming up with St. Martin de Porres and the Toledo Symphony Orchestra for the concert. “Being a part of the concert is a privilege,” she said.

With the theme, “Oh Happy Day,” Conductor of the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, Chelsea Tipton II, Clarence Smith, Director of the Clarence Smith Community Chorus and Bernard Curtis, Director of the Newbury Elementary School Chorus will perform a wide selection of music, ranging from jazz to classical. The orchestra will also be playing music from the film “Amistad.”

“Dry Your Tears, Africa,” a song from “Amistad” will be sung by Smith with the Newbury Chorus in the traditional Mende language.

“I am excited to be celebrating our heritage,” Smith said. “It is important to remember where we came from so we can continue to forge ahead.”

Tipton and Smith plan on doing the first half of the concert in orchestral and the second half in choral. “We have such an exciting and energized line-up that it’s bound to appeal to everyone,” Tipton said.

There is an afterglow party immediately after the concert with food, drink and music and the tickets are $30. The concert will be held at the St. Martin de Porres Catholic Parish at 4:30 p.m. Sunday and call (419) 241-4544.

“This is meant to be a true neighborhood event, and we’d like to see as much involvement as possible,” Smith said. “It’s going to be a powerful evening.”