Peabody’s Jazz and Choral programs’ first collaboration presents one of the most personal works of a defining American composer of the 20th century. Bandleader Duke Ellington was more than 50 years and nearly 2,000 compositions into his indelible career when he was commissioned to write a concert of sacred music for the 1965 opening of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. Born in 1899, Ellington came up during the early days of the blues, ragtime, and jazz, when all three were considered the “Devil’s music,” though faith remained foundational to Ellington. He eventually toured his “Sacred Concert” in American and European churches and recorded three versions of it. Less conventional sacred mass for worship and more musical celebration as spiritual discussion, he deemed it the most important work he ever created. The Peabody Jazz Ensemble, led by Sean Jones, the Richard and Elizabeth Case Chair of Jazz Studies, and the Peabody Hopkins Conservatory Choir, led by Beth Willer, Director of Choral Studies, perform an arrangement of Ellington’s “The Best of the Sacred Concerts” featuring guest soloists Keith Snipes, Imani-Grace Cooper, and faculty artist Brinae Ali.