Tracy Schuler-Vivo, Youngstown City School District’s Visual and Performing Arts director, works with Jack Ciarniello of Take Note Productions in assembling the virtual performance presentation commemorating the anniversary of the 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala., to end discrimination in voter registration. Ciarniello, a musician, arranger and audio / video engineer on the project, also serves on YSU’s music recording faculty.

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown City School District Visual and Performing Arts students have released a virtual performance to commemorate the anniversary of the 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala., to end discrimination in voter registration.

On March 7, 1965, about 600 people, led by John Lewis and Hosea Williams, began to march the 54 miles from Selma to Montgomery, the state capital, to register black voters.

They were attacked by state and local law enforcement at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in what would later be called Bloody Sunday. Seventeen people were hospitalized. Many more were injured and Lewis suffered a fractured skull.

On March 9, 1965, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led another march to the Edmund Pettus Bridge, but the crowd was turned back by state troopers. Marchers across the country demonstrated in support.

“To mark this historic event we’re releasing, ‘Glory,’ a special virtual performance,” said Tracy Schuler-Vivo, the school district’s Visual and Performing Arts director. “We’re pleased to have teamed up with Mahoning Valley Sojourn to the Past and Jack Ciarniello of Take Note Productions for this special virtual performance presentation.”

Mahoning Valley Sojourn to the Past, led by Penny Wells, takes an immersive journey each school year to study the civil rights movement meeting directly with civil rights icons and learning lessons in tolerance, nonviolence, compassion, forgiveness, faith and social responsibility.

“Young visual and performing artists and staff from Chaney, East, Choffin and Youngstown Rayen Early College have contributed to the virtual performance through music and dance,” Schuler-Vivo said. “The Sojourn to the Past students, some of whom attend Youngstown State University, contributed to the virtual performance by offering poignant readings to accompany the virtual performance piece.”

Ciarniello, a musician, arranger and audio / video engineer on the project, also serves on YSU’s music recording faculty.

Schuler-Vivo worked with Ciarniello on the post-production end of the virtual performance.

“Glory” may be found on the school district’s webpage and its Facebook page, and on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnorYcrwvkM&feature=youtu.be.

For more information on the visual and performing arts program, contact Schuler-Vivo at Tracy.Schuler-Vivo@youngstown.k12.oh.us.