November 11, 2003

'An Evening with Maya Angelou' Rescheduled Dec. 2

Maya Angelou will appear at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, in the Alexander Palestra of the Robert B. Goergen Athletic Center on the University of Rochester's River Campus. Her sold-out program, originally scheduled for Nov. 12, was postponed due to her son's medical emergency. Tickets for that performance will be honored on Dec. 2.

Considered a national treasure, Angelou is an author, poet, historian, playwright, performer, and civil rights activist. She has authored 12 best-selling books, including I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969) and her most recent work, A Song Flung Up to Heaven (2002). Angelou also has written several volumes of poetry; her collection titled Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie (1971) was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.

In her appearances, Angelou is known as a passionate speaker, mesmerizing audiences with her vigor and the beauty of her lyrics, swaying and singing as she recites.

Angelou is the second poet in U.S. history awarded the honor of writing and reciting original work at the Presidential Inauguration, appearing at the first inauguration of President Bill Clinton. In 1981, Angelou accepted a lifetime position as the first Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C. When she is not teaching, she continues to travel throughout the world making appearances.

Angelou's appearance at the University of Rochester is sponsored by the Outside Speakers Committee. For more information, call (585) 275-5911.