Henry Panion Previews The World Games 2022 Opening and Closing Ceremonies
RCB President Brenda Hackney and Rotarian Dr. Henry Panion
This week the Rotary Club of Birmingham welcomed Rotarian Dr. Henry Panion, Artistic Director, Conductor & Composer for The World Games 2022 Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Dr. Panion shared the spectacular celebrations that will kick off and close the sporting event taking place in Birmingham July 7th-17th.
“These World Games will be unlike any previous World Games, Olympics, or Super Bowl, with a festive musical and theatrical show encompassing dance, props, a 75-piece orchestra…and a slate of iconic artists representing a broad range of genres and styles, including Pop, Rock, Gospel, Hip-Hop, R&B, Country, and Latin,” Dr. Panion said.
He described the Opening Ceremony, “Unlocking the Magic — Celebrating the Power of The One,” where Master of Ceremonies Bootsy Collins will journey through a theatrical exploration of Birmingham’s past, present and future with the help of a 75-piece orchestra, youth, gospel and concert choirs, auxiliary band members, dancers, a color guard, and drones. The event will also feature a stirring rendition of the national anthem and the traditional parade of athletes.
Dr. Panion discussed the importance of telling the full story of Birmingham from its roots as an English settlement during the industrial revolution, through the tumultuous and historic events of the Civil Rights Movement to the state becoming a leader in healthcare, technology, finance and auto manufacturing.
“One of the things that I always want to do is commemorate — and that’s a little different word than celebrate — we want to commemorate our past. No doubt about that, there’s no way to look over that, we shouldn’t. But it’s always from a standpoint of hope and triumph and where we’re going and how we come together and how we’ve become a better community. We get a chance to tell that story.”
The Closing Ceremony celebrates Alabama with a new arrangement of the state song, headliner Lionel Richie and home-grown artists such as Alabama, Tony Toni Tone, Sara Evans, Yolanda Evans, Jamey Johnson, Ruben Studdard, Taylor Hicks, Bo Bice, Nelly, Martha Reeves, Yung Bleu, and the Blind Boys of Alabama.
Dr. Panion explained that the ceremonies will feature over 40 new compositions written and arranged for the event, including The World Games 2022 theme song he produced and co-wrote with Alabama lead singer Randy Owen and his daughter, Alison entitled “Hope of Alabama.” Owen and many of the Alabama artists are featured in the recording. He concluded his presentation by playing the music video for the audience, which resulted in a standing ovation.
The chorus proclaims, “The hope of Alabama is the hope for all the world. Every man can hold them, every woman, boy and girl. It is the dawning of a new day when love is what we bring. Everybody sing!”